SCOTLAND

Environment Protection

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions took place on the green economy at the Employability Forum held on 31 January 2013 by the UK and Scottish Governments.

David Mundell: The first meeting of the Scottish Employability Forum on 31 January considered the. current employability and skills landscape in Scotland. Members agreed to bring forward common priorities in the coming months to ensure the best outcomes for the unemployed in Scotland. The minutes of the Forum meetings will be published in due course on the website:
	http://www.employabilityinscotland.com
	and the Scotland Office website.

Manufacturing Industries

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether recent job losses in the manufacturing sector in Scotland were discussed in the Employability Forum held between the UK and Scottish Governments on 31 January 2013.

David Mundell: The first meeting of the Scottish Employability Forum on 31 January considered the current employability and skills landscape in Scotland. Members agreed to bring forward common priorities in the coming months to ensure the best outcomes for the unemployed in Scotland. The minutes of the Forum meetings, will be published in due course on the website:
	http://www.employabilityinscotland.com
	and the Scotland Office website.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Israel

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will consider imposing a ban on the exporting of weapons and components of weapons to the Israeli Government.

Alistair Burt: We do not believe that imposing a blanket arms embargo on Israel would be justified. The UK is firmly committed to Israel's security—and Israel continues to face many genuine security threats. Nor do we believe that an arms embargo would advance the middle east peace process. We already apply rigorously the Consolidated European Union and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, including with respect to Israel and do not allow any arms exports which we assess would be contrary to those criteria.

Israel

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration the Government have given to banning UK companies from manufacturing components sold to Israel to make drones.

Alistair Burt: We do not believe that a ban on UK companies manufacturing components is necessary, given the stringent requirements of the criteria by which we assess all arms exports. These assessments take into consideration the remit of the end user and the specification of the final platform. We refuse licences for any arms exports to Israel which we assess would be inconsistent with the criteria or other relevant commitments.

PRIME MINISTER

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 1004W, on ministerial policy advisers, if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of information that was requested in that question.

David Cameron: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 1004W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of their time her Department's staff in Afghanistan spend in the field.

Justine Greening: DFID staff regularly undertake field visits across Afghanistan to ensure our programmes are delivering results for the Afghan people and that we are getting value for money for the UK taxpayer. Information on the exact proportion of staff time involved cannot be provided for operational and security reasons.

Bangladesh

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the monitoring of the progress of projects funded by PMTC Bangladesh.

Alan Duncan: PMTC does not directly receive funding from DFID to implement or fund projects. PMTC is a member of a consortium led by Harewelle International and employs local staff who work for Harewelle International managed projects. Please refer to the answer given to PQ 128353 on 20 November 2012, Official Report, columns 475-6W, for an explanation of the assessments made on the Stimulating Household Improvements Resulting in Economic Empowerment programme, which is the funding window of the Economic Empowerment of the Poorest programme, managed by Harewelle International.

Burundi

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effect of the recent fire in the main market in the capital of Burundi; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with the Burundi Government on the effect on food prices in that country of the recent market fire in the capital of Burundi; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what support her Department plans to give to the Burundi Government to help mitigate the effects of the recent market fire on the national economy and the population of that country.

Lynne Featherstone: Along with other members of the diplomatic corps in Burundi, the UK deputy high commissioner (based in Rwanda with regional coverage of Burundi) visited the site of the former central market in Bujumbura, at the invitation of the Burundian Minister for External Relations, on 31 January 2013. She found the market was comprehensively destroyed. The Burundian Government committed to establish a temporary market place in a different location while the area was cleared and rebuilt.
	An assessment of the cost and impact of the damage has not yet taken place. However it was clear that the economic impact will be significant, both for the traders and their extended families who relied on the market for trade.
	On the same day, the deputy high commissioner had meetings with Trade Mark East Africa who are studying the impact and medium term needs following the disaster.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) continues to support the economic and trade integration of Burundi into the East African Community through the regional Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) programme. The UK will consider any TMEA recommendations for targeted support through our existing regional programme. .

Burundi

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment her Department has made of poverty reduction in Burundi; and if she will reinstate her Department's bilateral aid programme in that country.

Justine Greening: My Department remains engaged with Burundi through work with multilateral organisations and Trade Mark East Africa. My Department will continue with existing multilateral relationships.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether she has recently had discussions with her international counterparts on (a) committing funding to the green climate fund and (b) ensuring that funding does not come from existing aid budgets or in the form of loans.

Lynne Featherstone: The United Kingdom is fully committed to making the green climate fund operational as soon as possible. However, we will not be committing funding to the green climate fund until we are confident that the fund will deliver good value for money for UK taxpayers and for poor people in developing countries. We are using our seat on the board of the fund to make sure that the fund is designed well.
	Resources are available from the UK's International Climate Fund for the green climate fund when we are confident in its design. These resources will come from the UK's rising aid budget. When we arrive at the point of making a contribution, we will assess the right mix of grants and loans to maximise the total amount of money available for developing countries.

Developing Countries: Tuberculosis

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on direct bilateral aid for tuberculosis in each country in each of the last five years.

Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports tuberculosis control through a variety of bilateral channels including: projects and programmes at the country level; strengthening health systems in our partner countries to deliver tuberculosis outcomes; and funding research. We also provide support through multilateral channels and global partnerships. We cannot precisely disaggregate DFID expenditure for tuberculosis control from channels other than direct projects and programmes.
	Figures for direct spend on tuberculosis are reproduced as follows:
	
		
			 £000 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Burma 720 1,536 2,000 243 
			 China 2,888 4,414 — — 
			 India 4,178 8,188 750 — 
			 Indonesia 400 — — — 
			 Kyrgyzstan 25 175 98 200 
			 Pakistan 1,805 37 92 33 
			 Non specific 11,003 18,696 42,720 8,989 
			 Total bilateral 21,020 33,048 45,661 9,465 
		
	
	Spend on tuberculosis was first recorded under a separate code in 2008-09 in line with international aid reporting.

International Assistance

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her Department expects to publish the findings of its next multilateral aid review.

Justine Greening: The Department for International Development will publish an update to the Multilateral Aid Review at the end of 2013.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is on aid funding for middle income countries; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: DFID allocates its aid resources based on a range of factors including the need for aid and likely effectiveness and value for money of UK aid. Decisions about middle income countries are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria her Department uses to inform its decisions of when and how it ceases to provide aid.

Justine Greening: Decisions about aid, including in relation to when and how it is stopped, are taken on a case-by-case basis based on a range of factors including the need for aid and the likely effectiveness and value for money of UK aid.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any additional financial resources allocated by her Department will be channelled primarily through (a) multilateral agencies and (b) outside consultants.

Justine Greening: The Department delivers resources through the channels that provide the best value for money in delivering results.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Wages Board

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how submissions to the consultation on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board can be accessed; if he will publish each submission made to the consultation on his Department's website; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each submission to the consultation.

David Heath: A summary of the responses to the consultation on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board and related English committees was published on the DEFRA website on 19 December and can be found at the following link:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/10/16/agri-wages-board/
	There were 939 responses to the consultation exercise and it would not be practicable to make them all available on the DEFRA website. However, the consultation responses, other than those where respondees requested confidentiality, are available in the main departmental library at the Information Resource Centre (IRC) at Ergon House, c/o 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR (telephone 020 7238 6575). The IRC will supply, on request, copies of responses to personal callers or telephone enquirers. An administrative charge to cover copying and postage will be made.

Bees: Pesticides

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on bees.

David Heath: Since concerns were first raised on this important issue, DEFRA has been clear that it will act in accordance with the evidence. The independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides considered the latest evidence on the risks to bees from neonicotinoid insecticides at its meeting on 29 January. Once DEFRA Ministers have the Committee's advice, we will then consider the appropriate response.

Floods: Insurance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of how insurance claims for flooding are treated.

Richard Benyon: The insurance industry has an important role to play in helping people recover from the distressing experience of their home or business being flooded.
	I understand that claim handling arrangements generally seem to be working well in communities affected by recent flooding. We will continue to keep this under review.
	Insurers tell us they have learned lessons from previous floods, with many providing 24-hour help lines as well as practical advice on the ground in communities affected.

Forests

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to combat deforestation; and what assessment he has made of the final report by the Independent Panel on Forestry, published in July 2012.

David Heath: The Government published their Government Forestry Policy on 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 56-58WS. This included our response to the Independent Panel on Forestry's final report. Copies are available in the Library of the House and on the DEFRA website. It acknowledges the importance of the panel's report and confirms that the Government share its vision for the future of our forests. In the statement we confirmed that the Public Forest Estate will remain in public ownership. We also announced that a new body will be established to hold the estate in trust for the nation and manage it for the long-term benefit of people, the economy and the environment.
	We are committed to protecting and enhancing our existing woodland resource and also agree with the panel that there is scope to accelerate the rate of planting in order to increase further the amount of woodland cover in this country. Current planting rates exceed the loss of woodland.
	The Government's policy on when to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England was also confirmed, which includes strict criteria on when there are compelling reasons to permit deforestation for reasons of wildlife conservation. These criteria inform decisions about whether to grant an unconditional felling licence under the terms of the Forestry Act and any determination required by Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) regulations. Where deforestation is permitted, compensatory planting may be a requirement.

Genetically Modified Organisms

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding the opening of the EU market to GM foods.

David Heath: The Government are concerned that the EU control regime for GM crops and foods is deterring investment, innovation and growth. The EU has been authorising the import of GM commodities for food and animal feed use, albeit relatively slowly, but there is a significant problem with the time it takes to secure approval to market GM seeds for commercial cultivation. Only one GM crop has been cleared for planting in the last 14 years, which means that producers and consumers are being denied the potential benefits that GM cultivation could bring. The rest of the world is leaving Europe behind in adopting GM technology, so we are taking every opportunity to argue for the EU safety-based regime to function more effectively.
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I discussed this issue in my recent meeting with the Commissioner for health and consumer policy.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: EU Action

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes his Department is planning to introduce in response to the draft regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gasses, published on 7 November 2012.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is not currently planning to introduce any changes in response to the draft regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases.
	This proposal is still under discussion by the European Parliament and the Council. We continue to work closely with stakeholders, member states and the European Commission to ensure that UK views are taken into account as negotiations progress. Until agreement on the detail of the draft regulation has been reached and a new EU regulation adopted, it is not possible to say what changes might need to be made to the current requirements under Regulation (EC) No. 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases, which remain in place.

Horses: Slaughterhouses

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which 20 organisations send the greatest number of horses to slaughter.

David Heath: The information requested is not recorded, although all equidae consigned for slaughter must be accompanied by a valid horse passport. These documents contain details of the animal's identity, and a record of veterinary medicines administered to show whether the animal has been permanently excluded from slaughter for human consumption. Officials from the Food Standards Agency are present in abattoirs to ensure that only eligible equidae are permitted to enter the human food chain.

Stone Theft

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider introducing methods of tackling thefts of Yorkshire stone similar to those now in place for metal thefts.

Jeremy Browne: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	The Government are delivering a comprehensive package of measures to crack down on metal thieves and punish rogue scrap metal dealers including providing funding for more focussed enforcement activity, seeking design solutions to deter thieves and making legislative changes. The Home Office monitors emerging crime issues but has no current plans to adopt a similar approach in relation to the theft of Yorkshire stone. With the election of police and crime commissioners, local police forces are able to allocate resources appropriately to respond to local crime priorities.

HEALTH

Antibiotics

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure resistance to antibiotics does not increase in the NHS.

Daniel Poulter: The Department is leading work on a new cross-Government UK five year “Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy and Action Plan (2013-18)”, to address resistance to antibiotics.
	The strategy and action plan aims to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance in the healthcare sector by, for example, ensuring that good infection prevention and control measures become the norm to help prevent disease occurring, rather than a reliance on antibiotics. It also aims to ensure that infections can be diagnosed quickly, and the right treatment is deployed, and that patients are fully aware of the importance of treatment regimens prescribed and adhere to them. In addition, the strategy will ensure that surveillance is in place, which quickly identifies new threats or changing patterns in resistance.
	The strategy and action plan will be published in spring 2013.

Cancer: Drugs

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS cancer patients do not lose access to the latest innovative cancer treatments which they are presently able to receive when the Cancer Drugs Fund comes to an end in 2014.

Norman Lamb: National health service organisations will continue to be legally required to fund cancer treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in its technology appraisal guidance.
	We will ensure that there are arrangements in place to protect individual patients who are receiving treatment with drugs funded by the Cancer Drugs Fund as the end of the Fund approaches.
	We want to find a way in which patients who would benefit from drugs provided through the Cancer Drugs Fund can continue to do so, at a cost that represents value to the NHS, after the Fund comes to an end.

Cancer: Drugs

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the Cancer Drugs Fund has been spent to date; and how much of the fund remains unspent.

Norman Lamb: Information on spend by strategic health authorities (SHAs) under the interim cancer drugs funding arrangements in 2010-11 (from October 2010 to the end of March 2011) and under the Cancer Drugs Fund (from April 2011 to the end of December 2012) is shown in the table.
	The Radiotherapy Innovation Fund will utilise any underspend in the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2012-13.
	
		
			 £000 
			  Amount spent Allocation(2) 
			 October 2010 to end March 2011 (1)38,254 50,000 
			 April 2011 to end March 2012 (1)108,327 200,000 
			 April 2012 to end December 2012 117,357 200,000 
			 (1) Includes end of year spending commitments. (2) £200 million was available for the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2011-12 and 2012-13. This comprised £140 million allocated to the NHS and a further £60 million made available for SHAs to draw down as needed. Source: Information supplied to the Department by strategic health authorities

Cancer: Drugs

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that no restrictions will be placed on access to cancer medicines that are currently available under the cancer drugs fund when the NHS Commissioning Board takes over the management of that fund in 2013.

Norman Lamb: From April 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board will take on oversight of the Cancer Drugs Fund. Access to specific cancer drugs through the fund will continue to be based on the principle of clinically-led decision making that has guided the fund since it was created.

Doctors: Vacancies

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of (a) consultant and (b) registrar posts at ST4 level or above in England are currently unfilled by permanent appointments.

Daniel Poulter: The information is not collected centrally.

General Practitioners

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of local area teams' responsibility to maintain quality in their area; whether the accreditation and re-accreditation of GPs with a special interest falls within that responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The area teams (ATs) of the NHS Commissioning Board are responsible for the quality of the primary medical care services which they commission, that is for the quality of the services provided by general practitioners in their generalist role. The AT responsible officer has the additional responsibility of advising on the revalidation of general practitioners across the whole range of their clinical practice, which could include specialist roles. Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for the quality of the specialist services which they commission on behalf of their local populations, and in addition have a statutory duty to support the NHS Commissioning Board in improving the quality of primary medical care. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 991W, we are considering a wide range of options for the future arrangements for the accreditation and re-accreditation of General Practitioners with Special Interests, and will be making an announcement in due course.

Health Services

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on providing emergency care closer to home; and what national policy documents and guidance are produced by his Department on this matter.

Anna Soubry: The Department does not hold a national policy on providing emergency care closer to home. The configuration of urgent and emergency care services is a matter for the local national health service, and commissioners should ensure that there is provision of appropriate urgent and emergency care services locally to provide safe and effective care for patients.

Kidneys: Diseases

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services' recommendation to nationally commission Eculizumab for the treatment of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to (a) begin and (b) complete its appraisal of Eculizumab for the treatment of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

Norman Lamb: Ministers accepted the view of the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services on the clinical effectiveness of eculizumab for the treatment of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) but wanted further advice on its suitability for direct commissioning taking account of its cost effectiveness and affordability against the overall national health service financial position.
	The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to develop guidance on the use of eculizumab for aHUS as the first topic to be evaluated through its highly specialised technologies programme. NICE will produce a timetable for the development of its guidance.

Medical Treatments

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Commissioning Board expects to make all National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-approved medicines for specialised conditions available to patients in accordance with the three-month funding direction.

Norman Lamb: Subject to the passage of secondary legislation, the Government's intention is that there will be a statutory requirement on the NHS Commissioning Board to fund highly specialised technologies that have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), normally within three months of NICE's final guidance.

NHS Trusts

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if his Department will conduct a lessons learnt review into the use of the Unsustainable Providers Regime at the South London Healthcare Trust;
	(2)  in which NHS hospital trusts he is currently enacting the Unsustainable Providers Regime.

Anna Soubry: It is normal practice for the Department to learn the lessons from the first application of any process and these lessons will be built into any further application of the trust special administrator's regime.
	The trust special administrator's regime for a national health service trust, is triggered by the Secretary of State for Health. For an NHS foundation trust, the regime is triggered by Monitor. The regime is currently not being applied to any other NHS trust or NHS foundation trust.

NHS: Private Sector

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many private health companies have lost contracts with the NHS following serious failings in each year since 2007;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to ensure that public health is prioritised over profit by private companies providing contracts for the NHS.

Anna Soubry: The Department does not collect the information requested centrally because it is for local commissioners to manage contracts for local services as they are best placed to do so.
	Commissioners must act with a view to securing continuous improvements in the quality of services provided and outcomes they are seeking to achieve for their populations. They are responsible for specifying the quality of services in their contracts and for holding providers to account for delivering this. Increasingly, services will be subject to a national or local tariff, and private providers will compete on the quality and outcomes provided by their services not price.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his oral statement of 31 January 2013, when he plans to conclude his negotiations with King's Health Partners on the amount of (a) capital and (b) non-recurrent transitional funding they require to implement the recommendations of the special administrator to the South London Healthcare Trust.

Anna Soubry: The final decisions on funding for each individual hospital will be worked through as part of the implementation planning process, in collaboration with the Department to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. This process will be concluded as soon as possible.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his oral statement of 31 January 2013, what evidence the NHS Medical Director, Sir Bruce Keogh, used in arriving at his conclusion that the smaller accident and emergency at University Hospital Lewisham would continue to see up to 75 per cent of current patients; and if he will publish that evidence.

Anna Soubry: The draft report by the Trust Special Administrator (TSA) proposed that the accident and emergency (A&E) department at Lewisham hospital should be downgraded to a non-admitting Urgent Care Centre.
	The draft report estimated that around 77% of Lewisham hospital's current A&E activity would remain at that site. The figures are based on activity data supplied to the TSA by Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust. In light of consultation, the TSA revised this figure to “at least 50%”.
	Sir Bruce Keogh advised the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), that Lewisham hospital should retain an admitting A&E service with 24 hour, seven-day senior emergency medical cover. His estimate that the site could manage nearer to 75% of activity with these changes is based on the Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust's admissions data and, flowing from this, that the A&E would have the clinical capacity to safely treat this number of patients.
	The TSA's original analysis is in his draft report which is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/10/tsa-draftreport/
	Sir Bruce's advice is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/01/slht-decision/
	Both the TSA analysis and Sir Bruce's advice can only be estimates based on the best available information at the time. Managing activity levels across the different sites will need to be a key part of implementation planning involving clinical commissioning groups, national health service providers and the NHS Trust Development Authority.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his contribution of 8 January 2013, Official Report, column 170, what new legal advice he has received on the actions taken by the Trust Special Administrator in relation to South London Healthcare Trust.

Anna Soubry: In advance of taking a decision, the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), received legal advice which confirmed the position set out in his letter to the right hon. Member of 12 December 2012.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Bullying

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many cases of (a) bullying, (b) harassment and (c) constructive dismissal in his Department have been reported to his Department in each year since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: We are unable to provide information requested about (a) bullying, (b) harassment and (c) constructive dismissal in the Department of Energy and Climate Change as totals of five or less are suppressed on the grounds of confidentiality under section 40 of the Data Protection Act.

Energy

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) local authorities and (b) third sector organisations in each (i) nation of the UK and (ii) region of England submitted applications for Government funding for local energy schemes to help reduce fuel poverty, boost energy efficiency and encourage collective switching; and how many such applications were (A) successful and (B) not successful.

Gregory Barker: There were three strands of funding available under the DECC local authority competition 2012-13. Authorities could apply for support from one, two or all three funding pots, either as single bidders or as part of consortia. The Cheaper Energy Together Fund was also open to third sector organisations.
	Only local authorities in England were eligible to apply for support from the fuel poverty and Green Deal Pioneer Places funds. The ‘Cheaper Energy Together’ collective switching scheme was open to local authorities and third sector organisations in Great Britain.
	The following tables give a breakdown of applications by region and country.
	
		
			 Local authority applications 
			 Region Total number of local authority applications(1) Applications supported Applications not supported 
			 England    
			 East Midlands 22 7 15 
			 East of England 19 8 11 
			 Greater London 24 13 11 
			 North East 7 6 1 
			 North West 28 15 13 
			 South East 39 22 17 
			 South West 12 10 2 
			 West Midlands 24 12 12 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 14 10 4 
			     
			 Scotland 1 0 1 
			     
			 Wales 6 0 6 
		
	
	
		
			 Total local authority applications 196 (2)103 93 
			 (1 )64 applications involved consortia of local authorities. (2 )45 supported projects involve consortia, therefore funding will be delivered in 293 local authority areas. 
		
	
	
		
			 Third sector organisation applications 
			 Region Total number of third sector organisation applications Applications supported Applications not supported 
			 East of England 1 0 1 
			 East Midlands 2 1 0 
			 Greater London 4 0 4 
			 North East 2 1 1 
			 North West 1 0 1 
			 Scotland 2 1 1 
			 South East 6 0 6 
			 South West 4 3 1 
			 Wales 5 0 5 
			 West Midlands 3 0 3 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2 2 0 
			 National 5 0 5 
			 Total 37 8 28

Energy Companies Obligation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the change to an average (a) gas, (b) electricity and (c) dual fuel bill arising from setting the rate of Energy Company Obligation subsidy at (i) £80 and (ii) £180 per tonne of carbon dioxide saved.

Gregory Barker: The Government's estimate of the cost to energy companies of meeting their obligations is set out in the Final Green Deal and ECO impact assessment. Under our central projections we estimate that the market clearing ECO subsidy rate of meeting the carbon saving obligation is £77 per tonne of carbon dioxide saved. This equates to a total estimated cost to energy companies of delivering ECO at around £1.3 billion a year on average. Whether and how these costs are passed through to consumers is a question for individual energy companies.
	The Department has not estimated the costs to energy companies of ECO subsidy rates of £80 and £180 per tonne of carbon dioxide saved.

Fracking

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2013, Official Report, column 404W, on the Petroleum Act 1998, whether any of the operators with a section 29 notice under review are licensed to undertake onshore shale gas exploration.

John Hayes: It is not appropriate to provide the information requested as it could lead to potential identification of parties with a section 29 notice under review and speculation regarding their financial capacity.

Nuclear Power

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the future use of nuclear power on national energy supplies.

John Hayes: New nuclear power, alongside other forms of electricity generation such as renewables and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage, is a key part of our future low carbon energy mix, keeping us on a cost-effective pathway to meet our energy security and decarbonisation objectives.
	While we welcome plans set out by industry to develop approximately 16 GW of new nuclear capacity, the Government do not have technology specific targets. By ensuring a diverse energy mix we will ensure a secure and sustainable low carbon energy future.

Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent progress he has made on the creation of a new Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: As announced in the Gas Generation Strategy in December 2012, DECC is setting up an Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil (OUGO), which, working with DEFRA and other Government Departments, will join up responsibilities across Government, provide a single point of contact for investors and ensure a simplified and streamlined regulatory process.
	We are currently recruiting for a head of the office. We are also working with the relevant Government Departments to agree the remit and role of OUGO and will provide more details on this shortly.

Public Expenditure

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of likely expenditure by his Department under each budgetary heading and sub-heading in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.

Gregory Barker: The Department for Energy and Climate Change is currently finalising detailed business plans for 2013-14. Details of expenditure under each budgetary heading and sub-heading will be published in the 2013-14 Main Estimate in the spring. Detailed 2014-15 budgets have not been set yet. High level budgets for resource DEL, capital DEL and AME were set in the Department's spending review settlement which is published on the HM Treasury website.

Wind Power

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what limits he has placed on the development of on-shore wind capacity.

Gregory Barker: There are no targets or limits for onshore wind. We anticipate needing 13 gigawatts of onshore wind, alongside other renewables, to meet the 2020 renewables target.
	Wind farms must be well-designed and well-sited to be approved. Our planning reforms put local communities in the driving seat by giving them new powers to write their own plans. The Localism Act requires developers to consult potential host communities before a formal planning application is put in, to ensure that views of communities are captured at an early stage.

DEFENCE

Africa

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in (a) Mali, (b) Niger, (c) Nigeria, (d) Algeria, (e) Mauritania, (f) Burkina Faso, (g) Chad, (h) Libya, (i) Sudan, (j) South Sudan, (k) Ethiopia, (l) Somalia, (m) Kenya and (n) Western Sahara in 2011-12.

Andrew Murrison: holding answer 1 February 2013
	During 2011-12 the Ministry of Defence conducted Defence Engagement, including liaison and the provision of training, in Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. The cost to the Defence budget and to tri-departmental conflict pool funds of these activities for financial year 2011-12 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Nigeria 2,302,000 
			 Algeria 18,000 
			 Libya(1) 1,523,000 
			 Sudan 1,638,000 
			 South Sudan 629,000 
			 Ethiopia 1,201,000 
			 Somalia 246,000 
			 Kenya(2) 323,000 
			  £ 
			 (1) The figure provided for Libya excludes costs associated with Operation Ellamy which were met from the Treasury Reserve. (2) The figure provided for Kenya excludes conflict pool funding for the British Peace Support Team (East Africa) who conduct training activity throughout the East Africa region including Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, at a total annual cost of £4.5 million. Note: 1. The figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000, and exclude counter-terrorism related activity, due to its sensitive nature, and the costs of maintaining Defence attachés and advisers. 2. In addition, the figures provided do not take into account the costs of training by UK forces, principally the extensive training which takes place routinely in Kenya. Other miscellaneous expenditure, for example costs associated with senior visits or transit flights, is not collated centrally.

Algeria

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel are currently deployed in Algeria; and what their purpose is.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 5 February 2013
	There are currently six British military personnel in Algeria: the defence attaché whose role is defence engagement; a sergeant who is a temporary augmentee assisting the defence attaché; and four members of a close protection team for Her Majesty's ambassador to Algeria.

Armed Forces: Food

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the sourcing of meat for consumption by members of HM armed forces.

Andrew Murrison: All food procured for UK armed forces must comply with MOD Food Quality Standards. These standards, which are reviewed and updated every six months, comply with all UK and EU production standards, Farm Assurance or equivalent.

Defence: Procurement

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to publish an updated version of its defence industrial strategy.

Andrew Murrison: Our approach to purchasing equipment, support and technology for the UK armed forces is set out in the National Security Through Technology White Paper (Cm 8278) published in February 2012. This will be revisited at the time of the next strategic defence and security review. Building on the White Paper, the Defence Growth Partnership led by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be looking at how to improve the competitiveness of the UK defence sector.

Mali

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to encourage the inclusion of ethical education in the training of Malian troops by UK or EU personnel.

Andrew Robathan: The mandate for the EU Training Mission includes ethical education of all Mali Armed Forces personnel. The syllabus will specifically include the promotion of Human Rights and Gender Issues. The UK has offered to be in the lead for this element of the training and provide three civilian trainers. The UK's final contribution to this training mission has yet to be determined.

Mali

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected duration is of Operation Newcombe; and how many troops he anticipates will be involved.

Andrew Robathan: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 785, to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth), in which he outlined the current situation regarding Op Newcombe.
	In addition, the EU Training Mission (Mali) has a proposed mandate of 15 months from the mission launch. The earliest this is expected is 12 February 2013, but no decisions have been taken on the duration of any British contribution.
	With regards to the number of troops involved in Op Newcombe, I refer my hon. Friend to the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the deployment of personnel to Mali on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 781.
	In addition, there are currently around 30 people in France supporting the CI7 deployment.

Mali

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he first received a request from the French Government for military support in operations in Mali.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 5 February 2013
	The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), first received a request from the French Government for military support to operations in Mali on 12 January 2013.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to respond to the letter of 20 November 2012 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding British nuclear test veterans.

Andrew Murrison: holding answer 29 January 2013
	The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), is looking at the issues in detail and will respond in due course.

Piracy

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the rules of engagement and their interaction with floating armories; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: UK naval ships will have only routine interaction with vessels being used as Floating Armouries and therefore standard Royal Navy guidelines apply.

Red Arrows

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure the long-term future of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows.

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Red Arrows air display team; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: There are no plans to disband the Red Arrows.

Trooping the Colour

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of Trooping the Colour commemoration; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has no intention of changing the format or frequency of Trooping the Colour.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Regional Growth Fund

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the regional growth fund on job creation.

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the regional growth fund on job creation.

Vincent Cable: Nationwide, 360 selected beneficiaries will benefit from the £2.4 billion allocated from the fund so far, with the potential to create 500,000 jobs and generate £13 billon matching private investment.

Space Industry

Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to increase support for the UK space industry.

David Willetts: Britain's space sector is growing at over 8% a year. The Government supported this high growth sector by providing £1.2 billion of investment at the European Space Agency Ministerial last November. On 24 January I announced an extra £25 million for National Space research. The Satellite Applications Catapult is now open and will receive core funding of up to £10 million per annum.

Graphene Research

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of investment by UK businesses in graphene research.

David Willetts: The UK has made a major contribution to graphene research, since its discovery in 2004 and the Nobel prize for Professors Geim and Novoselov of Manchester University in 2010.
	We are investing £60 million in graphene of which £38 million will be used to create a National Institute of Graphene Research at the University of Manchester.
	The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have invested £10 million on linked manufacturing processes and technologies.
	Universities will be working with industrial partners including Dyson and BAE who are expected to provide an additional £12 million. We expect UK universities and businesses to benefit from the new €1 billion investment in graphene by the EU.

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on establishing the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on establishing the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.

Jo Swinson: I am delighted to have announced Christine Tacon as our choice for Adjudicator. She has extensive experience in retail and farming and her sector knowledge will help make her an effective Adjudicator.
	The Adjudicator-Designate is currently working on drafting guidance, meeting stakeholders and establishing her office.
	I am happy to inform the hon. Member that she will be visiting innovative direct suppliers in Herefordshire later this spring.

Foreign Direct Investment

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the effectiveness of his Department's initiatives designed to attract foreign direct investment.

Michael Fallon: I have answered several parliamentary questions on successful foreign direct investment into the UK.
	We have supported inward investment through UK Trade & Investment. In 2011-12, UKTI reported that 1,406 investment projects landed in the UK, creating or safeguarding 112,659 jobs.
	The autumn statement announced a further £70 million for UKTI including support for small businesses and those exporting for the first time.

Copyright

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment the Intellectual Property Office has made of the prevalence of activity that constitutes teaching and illustration but which is not covered by existing regulations governing non-commercial educational purposes.

Jo Swinson: Details of the planned changes with respect to educational establishments can be found in the consultation response ‘Modernising Copyright: A modern, robust and flexible framework' as well as the accompanying impact assessment. Examples of activities commonplace in schools that will be permitted under the new provisions include the use of interactive whiteboards and similar technology and the viewing of publicly accessible websites in classrooms. The changes will also allow the use of all types of media in teaching and education and facilitate the growing demand for distance learning.

Copyright

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Intellectual Property Office has created a definition of fair dealing; and if it will provide such a definition in any legislative proposals to reform copyright exceptions.

Jo Swinson: The Intellectual Property Office has not created a definition of “fair dealing”, nor does it propose to do so. For an explanation of “fair dealing” I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 4 February 2013, Official Report , column 105W, to question 140319.

Copyright

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he intends to bring forward legislative proposals to make copyright regulations simpler for people to understand.

Jo Swinson: The Government have announced they will implement a non-statutory scheme to issue ‘copyright notices’ that clarify copyright law. Details are outlined on pp. 49-52 of ‘Modernising Copyright: A modern, robust and flexible Framework’, the Government's response to consultation published in December 2012, which is available from:
	http://www.ipo.gov.uk/response-2011-copyright-final.pdf

Copyright

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the comparative costs and benefits of introducing a fair dealing exception for the use of sound recordings and films for research and private study.

Jo Swinson: The Government's assessment of the costs and benefits of the planned changes to research and private study are given in its impact assessment at:
	http://www.ipo.gov.uk/consult-ia-bis0311.pdf

EU Internal Trade

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made on establishing a UK retail in Europe network to support retail growth in the European single market.

Michael Fallon: BIS is setting up a working group to address the issues in the European retail action plan, published on 31 January 2013.

Exports

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps UK Trade and Investment has taken to work with other agencies to maximise export opportunities.

Matthew Hancock: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) works with a wide range of organisations to maximise export opportunities.
	UKTI's regional trade teams are managed by a range of organisations, particularly Chambers of Commerce, and much UKTI activity involving missions and overseas exhibitions is delivered in conjunction with national sector trade associations. UKTI has built on leveraging partnerships with its private sector partners and a range of other stakeholders to raise awareness of its services, using key intermediaries such as banks, accountants and lawyers. Close relationships are maintained with local enterprise partnerships and other regional stakeholders.

Green Investment Bank

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has plans to allow the Green Investment Bank to borrow.

Michael Fallon: The Government are fully committed to providing the UK Green Investment Bank (UK GIB) with the funding it needs to be an enduring and effective financial institution. With £3 billion to 2015, the bank is being amply funded so that it will not need to borrow in the short to medium term.
	As set out during second reading of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill in the House of Lords, the focus of the Chairman of UK GIB, Lord Smith, is on building a well run organisation with a good track record worthy of the injection of more capital or borrowing money in capital markets.

Public Bodies

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times he has met the chief executive of each of his Department's (a) Executive agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies in the last 12 months.

Jo Swinson: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has met twice with a chief executive of an executive agency and has held meetings with four chief executives of non-departmental public bodies in the last 12 months.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information her Department holds on the effect of businesses in the arts and cultural sectors on the economy (a) in general and (b) in the Tyne and Wear conurbation.

Edward Vaizey: DCMS estimates at the regional level the number of enterprises in the Creative Industries, which will include some arts and cultural enterprises. The numbers of such enterprises may provide an indication of where gross value added of the sector, which DCMS estimates at the national level, is created at the regional level.
	
		
			 Creative enterprises by region 2011 
			 Number/percentage 
			 Sector N. East N. West Yorks and Humbs East Mids West Mids East of Eng London S. East S. West Wales Scotland N. Ire UK total 
			 1. Advertising 350 1,590 930 760 990 1,540 4,660 2,940 1,210 280 590 200 16,010 
		
	
	
		
			 2. Architecture 270 940 670 610 750 1,060 2,790 1,850 1,010 350 990 410 11,700 
			 3. Art and Antiques 60 220 170 150 180 240 520 430 300 90 150 70 2,580 
			 4. Crafts(1) — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 5. Design 320 1,060 850 870 940 1,460 4,210 2,560 1,190 340 680 230 14,720 
			 6. Designer Fashion 20 70 60 60 60 100 280 170 80 20 40 20 970 
			 7. Film, Video and Photography 120 510 310 260 320 700 5,120 1,590 670 250 380 130 10,360 
			 9 and 10. Music, Visual and Performing Arts 380 1,580 1,140 1,020 1,150 2,510 13,290 5,140 2,300 680 1,070 190 30,460 
			 11. Publishing 140 640 530 540 610 1,100 2,520 1,850 940 240 470 120 9,700 
			 8 and 12. Software and Electronic Publishing 30 140 110 100 140 210 350 430 150 40 100 10 1,810 
			 8 and 12. Digital and Entertainment Media 10 30 20 20 30 40 120 100 40 10 20 10 440 
			 13. TV and Radio 90 370 200 190 260 500 4,030 1,230 500 220 280 100 7,960 
			 Total 1,800 7,100 5,000 4,600 5,400 9,500 37,900 18,300 8,400 2,500 4,800 1,500 106,700 
			               
			 Proportion of all creative enterprises (%) 1.70 6.70 4.70 4.30 5.10 8.90 35.50 17.20 7.90 2.30 4.50 1.40 100.00 
			 (1) The data available did not allow us to measure the number of enterprises in the Crafts Industry.

Broadband: South West

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential benefits of 4G mobile broadband to Devon and Somerset.

Edward Vaizey: I have not made any assessment of the benefits of 4G to specific counties in the UK. I understand that Ofcom, which is conducting the 4G auction, has made an assessment of the economic value of 4G to consumers across the UK as a whole. It estimates this to be at least £20 billion over the next 10 years.

Broadband: South West

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to invest in 4G mobile broadband in Devon and Somerset.

Edward Vaizey: Investment decisions into mobile networks are for the licensees of the spectrum used to provide 4G services to take. However, the 4G auction includes one licence with a demanding 98% coverage obligation which is designed to ensure that coverage for 4G exceeds existing 3G coverage and is comparable to current 2G coverage.

Broadband: South West

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential of 4G broadband roll-out to complement connecting Devon and Somerset's plans for superfast broadband.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is monitoring market developments in 4G in the light of the current spectrum auctions and is considering the potential of 4G services to complement fixed-line broadband services, along with other technology options.

Growth and Infrastructure Bill

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which part of the European regulatory framework for communications prevents clause 8 of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill being limited to specific forms of communications infrastructure; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Clause 8 can make no distinction between the type of communications infrastructure to which it relates because compliance with article 8(1) of the Framework Directive 2002/21/EC requires technology neutrality so far as the primary implementing legislation is concerned. That primary implementing legislation is section 109 Communications Act 2003, which clause 8 amends. Restrictions and conditions relevant to different types of infrastructure may be made at the level of secondary legislation which in this case is the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003.

Mayors: Tower Hamlets

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the case for new regulation following the report by Ofcom into the political broadcasts of the Mayor of Tower Hamlets.

Edward Vaizey: On 21 January Ofcom announced that it had found five licensees in serious breach of the prohibition on political advertising and was taking appropriate action. Ofcom is independent of Government and it is up to it to warn or fine licensees or revoke licences as appropriate for breaches of their broadcast code. I have no plans to introduce further regulation in the area of political advertising.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Capita

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met the Chief Executive of Capita.

James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Conditions of Employment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in her Department are employed on zero hours contracts.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 6 February 2013
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 997W.

Dangerous Driving

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been given multiple custodial sentences for dangerous driving while (a) under the influence of alcohol and (b) not under the influence of alcohol since 2000;
	(2)  how many people with a previous conviction for dangerous driving while (a) under the influence of alcohol and (b) not under the influence of alcohol have been later charged with dangerous driving while (i) under the influence and (ii) not under the influence of alcohol in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many people who have previously served a custodial sentence for dangerous driving while (a) under the influence of alcohol and (b) not under the influence of alcohol have been charged for the same offence within 10 years in each of the last 10 years.

Jeremy Wright: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	PQ 139816
	(a) 1,872 offenders have been given multiple custodial sentences for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol since 2000.
	(b) 2,870 offenders have been given multiple custodial sentences for dangerous driving while not under the influence of alcohol since 2000
	PO 139818
	Table 1A shows the number of offenders with a previous conviction for dangerous driving under the influence of alcohol who have been later convicted for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 1A : Number of offenders with a previous conviction for dangerous driving under the influence of alcohol who have been later convicted for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales 
			 12 months ending June Under the influence of alcohol Not under the influence of alcohol 
			 2002 12,211 1,314 
			 2003 14,472 1,560 
			 2004 15,964 1,598 
			 2005 16,647 1,516 
			 2006 16,755 1,410 
			 2007 16,864 1,443 
			 2008 16,923 1,364 
			 2009 15,646 1,238 
			 2010 14,425 1,152 
			 2011 13,036 1,024 
			 2012 12,871 1,045 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	Table 1B shows the number of offenders with a previous conviction for dangerous driving ‘not’ under the influence of alcohol who have been later convicted for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 1B: Number of offenders with a previous conviction for dangerous driving not under the influence of alcohol who have been later convicted for dangerous driving while under the influence and not under the influence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales, England and Wales 
			 12 months ending June Under the influence of alcohol Not under the influence of alcohol 
			 2002 2,745 1,791 
			 2003 3,111 1,970 
			 2004 3,289 1,934 
			 2005 3,199 1,778 
			 2006 3,193 1,559 
			 2007 3,014 1,551 
			 2008 2,986 1,442 
			 2009 2,715 1,257 
			 2010 2,625 1,049 
			 2011 2,331 959 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 2,326 1,035 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	PO 139820
	Table 2: Number of offenders who previously served a custodial sentence for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol who have been charged for the same offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of offenders who previously served a custodial sentence for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol who have been charged for the same offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales. 
			 12 months ending June Under the influence of alcohol Not under the influence of alcohol 
			 2002 2,657 1,252 
			 2003 3,067 1,408 
			 2004 3,130 1,432 
			 2005 3,077 1,271 
			 2006 2,854 1,122 
			 2007 2,548 1,060 
			 2008 2,411 983 
			 2009 2,138 835 
			 2010 1,910 719 
			 2011 1,709 622 
			 2012 1,599 685 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	The Police National Computer (PNC) came into existence in 2000 and information prior to this is not considered reliable so data before July 2001 are not available. The figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, (PNC) which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	Drink driving offences presented in the tables include the following offences:
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 1(1). As amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 S.l and CJA 1993 S.67 Causing death by dangerous driving.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sect 3A as added by the RTA 1991 S.3 and amended by CJA 1993 S.67. Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs
	Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving; Road Traffic Act 1988 S.2B as added by Road Safety Act S20
	Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers; Road Traffic Act 1988 S.3ZB as added by Road Safety Act S.21
	Road Traffic Act 1988.S.22A as added to by the Road Traffic Act 1991 Sec 6 Causing danger by causing anything to be on a road, interfering with a vehicle or traffic equipment.
	Offences against the Person Act 1861 Sec. 35 Causing bodily harm by furious driving
	Theft Act 1968 S.12A as added by the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992 S. 1 - Aggravated taking where owing to the driving of the vehicle an accident occurs causing the death of any person
	Theft act 1968 s. 12a - aggravated taking where : a) the vehicle was driven dangerously on a road or other public place, or b) owing to the driving of the vehicle an accident occurred causing injury to any person or damage to any property other than the v
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec.2 As amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991. Dangerous Driving.
	Driving or attempting to drive after consuming alcohol or drugs
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(1) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec.5 (1) (a) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(2) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 5(1) ( b ) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit,
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a for a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 6(4) Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test.
	Failing to allow specimen of blood to be subjected to laboratory test. Road Traffic Act 1998
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle whilst unfit through drink or drugs (impairment) - drink. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle whilst unfit through drink or drugs (impairment) - drugs. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(l)
	Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit to drive through drink or drugs, (impairment) - drink. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
	Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit to drive through drink or drugs (impairment) - drugs. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
	Careless Driving (Non Standard List)
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 3 Careless driving - without due care and attention.
	Failure to comply with an order to stop a moving vehicle, Police Reform Act 2002.
	Use of hand held mobile phone while driving. Road Vehicles Regulations 1986.
	Causing the use of a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle. Road Vehicles Regulations 1986.
	Using a mobile phone while supervising the holder of a provisional driving licence to drive a motor vehicle on the road. Road Vehicles Regulations 1986
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 12(1) Racing on highway.

Detention Centres: Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were detained for immigration purposes in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Mark Harper: The Home Office publishes monthly, quarterly and annual statistics on the number of children detained in the UK within Immigration Statistics. The data on children entering detention by quarter are readily available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: July-September 2012, table dt.01.q from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
	Figures on people held are those detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers and exclude those in police cells, Prison Service establishments, short-term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours), and those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants.
	Data for October-December 2012 and annual figures for 2012 will be released as part of the regular Home Office publication scheme on 28 February 2013.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) her Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

James Brokenshire: The information requested on Government Procurement Card spend for the Home Department and its arm's length bodies can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  2011 GPC Spend per member of staff (£) 2012 GPC Spend per member of staff (£) 
			 Home Office and its agencies 127 102 
			 NPIA 924 527 
			 IPCC 256 219 
			 SIA n/a 12 
			 OISC 306 357 
			 ISA 67 102 
			 SOCA n/a 2 
			 DBS n/a n/a 
			 Note: SIA and SOCA did not have GPC cards in 2011, and DBS was not established until 1 December 2012.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) her Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

James Brokenshire: The Home Department and its arm's length bodies have been provided with guidance by HM Treasury for spend over £25,000 and over £500 using the Government Procurement Card. A copy of the ‘Government guidance on Spend’ and the ‘Treasury guidance on Spend for ALBs’ will be placed in the Library. This information has been issued to relevant staff and implemented.

Immigration

Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will give consideration to requiring non-UK EU nationals to acquire residency cards before they may settle in Britain; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of a similar system in operation in Spain.

Mark Harper: Spain is one of a number of other EU member states that require EU nationals residing for longer than three months to register with their authorities. Registration confirms that an EU national is exercising rights of free movement which derive from EU law.
	The UK does not operate a system of mandatory registration for EU nationals, though many EU nationals choose to apply to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for documentation to evidence their rights. UKBA has strict requirements in place to ensure that those EU nationals who apply prove that they are exercising their treaty rights.
	The Home Office regularly reviews the implementation of the free movement directive and as part of this process considers developments and practices in other member states.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to seek out and return to Libya funds and assets held by members of the former Gaddafi regime in the UK.

Jeremy Browne: Financial sanctions were introduced against institutions and individuals associated with the former Gaddafi regime in Libya in early 2011. Sanctions were extensively modified during 2011.
	An asset freeze remains in force against 39 individuals and 21 entities, including the Libyan Investment Authority. A full list of the persons subject to the Libyan asset freeze is available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_sanctions_libya.htm
	While significant sums remain frozen under the extant Libyan sanctions, a large proportion of the sums originally frozen under Libyan sanctions were unfrozen and therefore available to the new Libyan authorities. A number of licences have also been granted allowing otherwise frozen funds to be used to fund humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, and to continue to allow Libyan investments to be managed and safeguarded.
	In addition, the cross-Government Arab Spring Asset Recovery Task Force, which the Prime Minister announced at the UN General Assembly on 26 September 2012, is supporting Arab Spring countries, including Libya, seeking to recover their stolen assets.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to assist the Libyan Government to uncover the individuals who benefitted financially from the Gaddafi regime through monitoring their assets in the UK.

Jeremy Browne: Financial sanctions were introduced against institutions and individuals associated with the former Gaddafi regime in Libya in early 2011. While these were modified later that year, an asset freeze remains in force against 39 individuals and 21 entities, including the Libyan Investment Authority. A full list of the persons subject to the Libyan asset freeze is available on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_sanctions_libya.htm
	The Treasury issued a notification of the sanctions on the HM Treasury financial sanctions web pages. In addition, an e-mail was sent to all of its subscribers. This included, but was not limited to, financial institutions that froze relevant assets. Assets can only be unfrozen with the HM Treasury's permission.
	On 26 September 2012 the Prime Minister announced at the UN General Assembly that the UK would create a new cross-Government Task Force to return assets stolen by members of the former regimes of the Arab Spring countries, including Libya, and hidden in the United Kingdom. The Task Force is now operational and providing support to countries, including Libya, seeking to recover their assets.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) her Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

James Brokenshire: The following tables set out the information requested for the Home Office and its executive agencies and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). For the NDPBs information prior to March 2011 is not available and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The figures for 2012-13 year to date are high compared to the previous year. This is due to increased levels of overtime required as a result of the Queen’s jubilee and the Olympic games.
	The information provided is for staff at Grade 6 and below. Senior civil servants are not entitled to overtime payments.
	
		
			 NDPB average staff overtime costs 
			 (£) 
			  (A) March 2011 (B) 2011-12 (C) 2012-13 to date 
			 EHRC 15.06 61.70 7.79 
			 ISA (until November 2012) 479.63 140.09 270.68 
			 DBS (from December 2012) — — 30.45 
			 IPCC 49.50 438.36 417.74 
			 NPIA 29.58 444.50 524.33 
			 OISC 2.68 0 0 
			 SIA 127.37 67.14 152.85 
			 SOCA 305.55 3,612.18 2,833.85 
			 Notes: 1. Extract dates: Last calendar day of each month. 2. Periods covered: Data are given by financial year. For 2010-11 we only hold data for March 2011. Data for 2011-12 cover the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012. Data for 2012-13 to date cover the period 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2012. 3. Organisational coverage: Figures are provided for each individual NDPB. Please note that the ISA ceased to exist at the start of December 2012, therefore their 2012-13 figures only cover the period 1 April 2012 to 30 November 2012, At the start of December 2012 the ISA merged with the Criminal Records Bureau to form the DBS. Therefore DBS figures for 2012-13 only cover the period 1 to 31 December 2012. Since 4 September 2012 responsibility for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (a non-departmental public body), formerly within the Home Office, moved to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 4. Employee coverage: Average costs are calculated based on the full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount of payroll employees only (as supplied for the Workforce Management Information returns) as at 31 March 2011, 31 March 2012 and 31 December 2012 (for ISA 30 November 2012 was used instead of 31 December 2012). 5. Transparency agenda considerations: Figures provided are in line with those published in the Workforce Management Information returns on the Home Office website on a monthly basis. 6. Calculations: Average cost of overtime per member of staff has been calculated by taking the total cost of overtime payments for the period, and dividing by the average number of staff (full-time equivalent) in the Department within the period. E.g. Average FTE for 2011-12: (FTE at 31 March 2011 + FTE at 31 March 2012). Figures for March 2011 are based on the FTE at 31 March 2011 only. Source: Collated from submissions made by each non-departmental public body (NDPB) for inclusion in the Home Office's Workforce Management Information monthly return to Cabinet Office. 
		
	
	
		
			 NDPB total overtime costs 
			 (£) 
			  (A) March 2011 (B) 2011-12 (C) 2012-13 to date 
			 EHRC 6,242.00 23,487.46 2,158.00 
			 ISA (until November 2012) 130,075.00 36,760.84 68,956.31 
			 DBS (from December 2012) n/a n/a 21,946.16 
			 IPCC 20,916.84 175,473.02 157,838.64 
			 NPIA 43,425.04 613,336.26 353,849.26 
			 OISC 153.00  0 
			 SIA 22,442.50 12,029.52 26,633.61 
		
	
	
		
			 SOCA 1,145,399.00 13,204,673.00 10,323,422.00 
			 Notes: 1. Extract dates: Last calendar day of each month. 2. Periods covered: Data are given by financial year. For 2010-11 we only hold data for March 2011. Data for 2011-12 cover the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012. Data for 2012-13 to date cover the period 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2012. 3. Organisational coverage: Figures are provided for each individual NDPB. Please note that the ISA ceased to exist at the start of December 2012, therefore their 2012-13 figures only cover the period 1 April 2012 to 30 November 2012. At the start of December 2012 the ISA merged with the Criminal Records Bureau to form the DBS. Therefore DBS figures for 2012-13 only cover the period 1 to 31 December 2012. 4. Employee coverage: Overtime costs are for payroll employees only (as supplied for the Workforce Management Information returns). 5. Transparency agenda considerations: Figures provided are in line with those published in the Workforce Management Information returns on the Home Office website on a monthly basis. Source: Collated from submissions made by each non-departmental public body (NDPB) for inclusion in the Home Office's Workforce Management Information monthly return to Cabinet Office. 
		
	
	
		
			 Home Department 
			 (£) 
			  (a) Average cost per member of staff (b) Total cost of overtime payments 
			 (A) 2010-11 257.27 7,251,462.27 
			 (B) 2011-12 213.21 5,920,707.80 
			 (C) 2012-13 year to date 375.75 10,101,874.50 
			 Notes: 1. Extract date(s): 1 April 2010, 1 April 2011, 1 April 2012, 1 January 2013 2. Period(s) covered: Data for the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 cover the period 1 April to 31 March. A year to date figure is given for 2012-13 and covers the period 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2012. 3. Organisational coverage: Figures include Home Office Headquarters (including Border Force and Government Equalities Office) and the Executive Agencies. For the period up to November 2012 this included the UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service, National Fraud Authority and Criminal Records Bureau. On the 3 December 2012 the Criminal Records Bureau left the Home Office to form part of the Disclosure and Barring Service and therefore they have been excluded from data in December 2012. Since 4 September 2012 responsibility for the Government Equalities Office (a unit within the Department), formerly within the Home Office, moved to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 4. Employee coverage: Average costs are calculated based on the full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount of all civil servants and non civil servants who were current members of staff as at 31 March 2010, 31 March 2011, 31 March 2012 and 31 December 2012. 5. Calculation(s): Average cost of overtime per member of staff has been calculated by taking the total cost of overtime payments for the period, and dividing by the average number of staff (full-time equivalent) in the Department within the period. E.g. Average FTE for 2010-11: (FTE at 31 March 2010+FTE at 31 March 2011-12. Source(s): Employee information from Data View—the Home Office's single source of Office for National Statistics compliant monthly snapshot corporate human resources data. Data on overtime pay taken from monthly payroll information.

Police: Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the candidates who have been interviewed for the post of Chief Constable or Deputy Chief Constable in UK police forces in each year since 2008 have been of (a) ethnic minority origin or (b) female.

Damian Green: holding answer 24 January 2013
	The figures are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Total number of applicants for chief constable and deputy chief constable posts (or equivalent ranks) Number of female candidates interviewed for chief constable and deputy chief constable posts (or equivalent ranks), where known Number of ethnic minority candidates interviewed for chief constable and deputy chief constable posts (or equivalent ranks), where known 
			 2008 73 12 1 
			 2009 121 15 3 
			 2010 69 6 3 
			 2011 61 8 2 
			 2012 (January to July) 19 0 0 
			 Notes: 1. Information on the number of applicants obtained from the minutes of the Senior Appointments Panel meetings from January 2008 up to the last meeting held in July 2012. 2. Information on the number of female and ethnic minority candidates interviewed obtained from the Senior Appointments Panel database. Information only provided where known.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's service standards are for processing appeals against decisions relating to individuals in receipt of employment and support allowance; and how it has performed against these standards in each of the last three years.

Mark Hoban: There are no headline targets for appeals, however the Department has an internal measure for appeals clearance. This measures the average appeals clearance time, in working days, from the date of receipt to the point at which it is submitted to Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service and is set at 50 working days for employment and support allowance. Data are gathered for a ‘reporting year’ which runs from April to March. Performance for the last three reporting years is as follows:
	
		
			 April to March each year Days 
			 2011-12 37.77 
			 2010-11 37.03 
			 2009-10 30.27

Foster Care: Housing Benefit

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many foster carers in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) South Lanarkshire are currently in receipt of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.

Housing Benefit

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people will no longer be excluded from the housing benefit cap due to the change in retirement age.

Steve Webb: The equalisation of women's state pension age with men's, the legislated rise in state pension age to 66, and the announced rise to age 67 were factored into the updated Benefit Cap Impact Assessment, which was published on 16 July 2012, and the updated Equality Impact Assessment, which was published on 23 July 2012.
	The Impact Assessment can be accessed at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/benefit-cap-wr2011-ia.pdf
	and the Equality Impact Assessment at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-benefit-cap-wr2011.pdf
	These changes in state pension age will not lead to the benefit cap affecting anyone who has reached state pension age on its introduction in April 2013.

Personal Independence Payment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason the requirement that individuals should be able to perform tasks reliably, safely, repeatedly and in a timely manner in terms of those who will undertake mobility disability assessments has been removed from the draft Personal Independence Payments scheme.

Esther McVey: We have always been clear that the assessment for Personal Independence Payment should not just consider whether an individual can complete an activity, but the manner in which they do so. This has always been a key principle of the assessment and will remain so.
	Originally we had intended to include this in the guidance; however, recognising the strength of feeling on this important safeguard, the Government have agreed to include it in regulations. We will lay an amending regulation once the main PIP entitlement regulations are made by Parliament, ensuring that the change is included before the PIP regulations come into force from 8 April.

Personal Independence Payment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  for what specific medical reason the maximum walking distance has been reduced from 50 to 20 metres for those who will apply for the mobility component of the draft Personal Independence Payments scheme;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the consequences for individuals who can walk without difficulty for more than 20 metres but less than 50 metres in terms of the mobility component of the draft Personal Independence Payments scheme.

Esther McVey: Under the ‘Moving Around' activity, it has always been the policy intent that individuals who are unable to walk more than 50 metres should be entitled to some rate of the Mobility component. Within this group we wanted to ensure that the enhanced rate was focused on those who face the greatest barriers to mobility, with the remainder receiving the standard rate.
	In the second draft of the assessment criteria we intended to differentiate within the group of people who are unable to walk more than 50 metres by considering the types of aids that individuals used. However, it was clear that we did not succeed. The descriptors were unclear and resulted in misconceptions about how the activity would work. This was apparent from the responses we received to our consultation, which indicated that most people believed that only those people who used a wheelchair could receive the enhanced rate, which has never been our intention.
	Therefore, we needed to change the criteria to make them clearer and easier to apply. We did so by differentiating within the eligible group by considering the distances that individuals can walk. We did this by introducing a 20 metre measure linked to the enhanced rate, ensuring it is focused on those who have the most limited mobility. We feel this is much clearer and achieves the original policy intent. By taking this approach, individuals who cannot walk 20 metres can be certain they will receive the enhanced rate, regardless of whether they need an aid or appliance. I must also stress that this must be looked at in context of whether individuals can complete the activities safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period.
	Our analysis of the second and final drafts of the assessment criteria shows that the projected number of people who will score 12 points under the ‘Moving Around' activity will remain broadly the same, despite an overall component caseload reduction. This indicates that the changes made to this activity have not tightened the eligibility criteria.

Social Rented Housing

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a room of 70 square feet or less is classified as a bedroom for the purposes of the under-occupancy criteria.

Steve Webb: The size criteria rules for housing benefit have been successfully applied to tenants renting in the private sector since the 1990s. They will be extended to tenants renting in the social sector from April this year. Then, as now, classification of the size of the property will be a matter for individual landlords and their tenants.

Social Security Benefits: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to trial the benefit cap in the London boroughs of Haringey, Enfield, Bromley and Croydon.

Mark Hoban: The benefit cap will be implemented from 15 April 2013 in the London boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Enfield and Haringey. We plan to implement the Benefit Cap in all other local authorities during the summer and as such all households identified as being appropriate to be capped will, in line with existing plans, have been capped by the end of September 2013. DWP will be working closely with the four boroughs, to support them with the implementation of the cap. There will also be a dedicated helpline available and Jobcentre Plus will have named account managers working specifically with each of the four LAs rolling out in April 2013.

Social Security Benefits: Uprating

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people in the (a) support group and (b) work-related activity group will see a reduction in their benefit as a result of the Welfare Benefits Up-Rating Bill in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average (a) monthly and (b) annual reduction in entitlement of a claimant in the (i) support group and (ii) work-related activity group as a result of the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill in 2015-16.

Steve Webb: The Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill will not lead to a reduction in benefits since those benefits within the scope of the Bill will be increased by 1% in 2014-15 and 2015-16. All members of the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group and Work-Related Activity Groups will be affected by the Bill.
	The average changes to entitlement for the Work Related Activity Group and the Support Group, compared to up-rating by the Consumer Prices Index (consistent with the Impact Assessment published alongside the Bill), are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  Monthly change Annual change 
			 WRAG -17 -210 
			 SG -12 -140 
			 Note: Monthly figures are presented to the nearest £1 and yearly figures to the nearest £10. 
		
	
	Many claimants will not be on ESA for a year—for instance, more than half of current new ESA claims leave the benefit within a year.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reports he has received about Work programme providers encouraging participants to submit fraudulent claims for working tax credit on the basis of non-existent self-employment; and if he will investigate any such reports of this practice.

Mark Hoban: Self-employment can be an appropriate route for many jobseekers to move off benefits and into work, and it is right that Work programme participants should be encouraged to consider whether it is appropriate for them.
	We have tough controls in place to make sure taxpayers' money is protected, so providers will only get payments for helping people into self-employment when their claims have passed the Department's validation checks, which include checking that the individual has stopped claiming benefits. Any evidence of fraudulent activity would be investigated rigorously.

Work Programme

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many postponements of referrals to the Work programme have occurred since the programme commenced; and for what reasons such postponements have taken place.

Mark Hoban: This information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Work Programme

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how frequently Work programme referrals and outcomes statistics will be published in 2013; who decides on the frequency and dates of publication of those statistics; and what the next release dates are for (a) referrals and (b) outcomes data.

Mark Hoban: The frequency of publication and release dates of Work programme referrals and outcome statistics are currently under consideration. Decisions are ultimately for Ministers.

EDUCATION

Academies

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the powers available to local education authorities to intervene in failing academies; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: It is not the role of local authorities (LAs) to intervene in underperforming academies. Academies are autonomous from LAs and their performance is a matter for the Department through the Office of the Schools Commissioner. If a local authority (LA) has concerns about an individual academy, we expect the LA to raise these concerns with the Academy Trust in first instance. If the LA feels that the Academy Trust is failing to take sufficient action concerns can be raised with Ofsted or the Secretary of State.

Aviation

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions he has taken a domestic flight within his official capacity since May 2012; how many such flights were (a) charter flights, (b) first or club class and (c) by helicopter; and who accompanied him on each such trip.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 5 February 2013
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has not taken domestic flights for official trips since May 2012.

Children: Day Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons his Department has not published the report compiled by Professor Helen Penn on childcare costs; and whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department had any input into the conclusions of that report.

Elizabeth Truss: The ‘Costs of Childcare’ report, compiled by Professors Helen Penn and Eva Lloyd, will be published in accordance with the Government Social Research protocol on the publication of research reports.
	As is standard practice with the management of commissioned research projects, officials have commented on the factual accuracy of the report, but the conclusions are the authors' own.
	The report was commissioned as part of the Childcare Commission, and will be published with other documents relating to the Childcare Commission.

Education: Qualifications

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of year 11 pupils (a) in total, (b) in each non-academy school, (c) in each converter academy, (d) in each sponsor-led academy and (e) for all academies achieved at least (i) five A* to C GCSEs, (ii) five A* to C GCSEs excluding any other qualification judged to be equivalent, (iii) five A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics, (iv) five A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics but excluding any other qualification judged equivalent and (v) attained the English Baccalaureate in 2011-12; and how many and what proportion of such pupils were eligible for free school meals.

Elizabeth Truss: Information on pupil attainment for those pupils who are eligible for free school meals is not published at school level. Information on pupil attainment at the end of Key Stage 4 by school type and for disadvantaged pupils for the schools requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

GCE AS-level

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 750W, on AS level reform, what views were expressed by university representatives of (a) the Russell Group, (b) Universities UK and (c) 1994 Group on the future of AS levels.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 4 January 2013
	Since the publication of the White Paper, “The Importance of Teaching”, in November 2010, a range of views on AS level reform have been expressed by university representatives in the Russell Group, 1994 Group and Universities UK. It is for those individuals and groups to decide whether to make public their views and any responses to Ofqual's consultation on A levels.

GCSE: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils in state schools in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire achieved five GCSE passes, including mathematics and English in each of the last five years.

Elizabeth Truss: Information on the number and percentage of pupils in state-funded schools in Pendle constituency and Lancashire local authority achieving five or more GCSEs at grade A* to G or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs (or iGCSEs) can be found in the following tables.
	
		
			 Number and percentage of pupils(1,2) at the end of Key Stage 4 (KS4) achieving 5+ GCSEs at grade A*-G or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs(3,4) in Pendle constituency and Lancashire local authority(5), years: 2007/08 to 2011/12(6) 
			  2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			  No of pupils at the end of KS4 No gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths % gaining 5* GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths No of pupils at the end of KS4 No gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths % gaining 5* GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths No of pupils at the end of KS4 No gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths % gaining 5* GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths 
			 Lancashire 14,214 12,999 91.5 13,656 12,677 92.8 13,465 12,647 93.9 
			 Pendle 1,115 993 S9.1 999 902 90.3 966 887 91.8 
		
	
	
		
			  2010/11 2011/12 
			  No of pupils at the end of KS4 No gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths % gaining 5* GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths No of pupils at the end of KS4 No gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths % gaining 5* GCSEs at A*-G inc English and maths 
			 Lancashire 12,878 12,207 94.8 13,006 12,327 94.8 
			 Pendle 925 861 93.1 917 866 94.4 
			 (1) Figures do not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. (2) Figures include all state-funded schools (including CTCs and academies). (3) From 2009/10 iGCSEs, accredited at time of publication, have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs. (4) Including attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. (5) Parliamentary constituency figures are based on the postcode of the school. Local authority figures are based on the local authority maintaining the school, or in the case of CTCs and Academies, the Local Authority in which the school is situated. (6) Figures for 2007/08 to 2010/11 are based on final data, figures for 2011/12 are based on revised data. Source: National Pupa Database (2007/08 to 2010/11) and Key Stage 4 attainment data (2011/12)

Ministers' Private Offices and Advisers

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what external funding he receives for the funding of his (a) private ministerial office and (b) advisers; and what the (i) source and (ii) amount is of any such funding.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 5 February 2013
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), does not receive any external funding for his ministerial office or advisers.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Elizabeth Truss: Figures for the Department for Education and its two arm's length bodies are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012 to 31 December 2012 
			 (a) Overtime—average cost per member of staff    
			 Department for Education 243.59 232.31 143.10 
			 The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) 75.59 77.53 38.17 
			 Office of the Children's Commissioner OCC 0 0 0 
			     
			 (b) Overtime total cost    
			 Department for Education 642,725.28 708,573.51 565,980.45 
			 The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) 141,116.12 137,053.37 67,018.03 
			 Office of the Children's Commissioner OCC 0 0 0 
		
	
	Ofsted and Ofqual are non-ministerial bodies and should be contacted directly for any information.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether male-targeted education on the consequences of rape is included in (a) the National Curriculum and (b) personal, social and health education.

Elizabeth Truss: All maintained secondary schools are required to provide sex education as part of the basic curriculum; and academies are free to do so as part of the requirement on them to teach a broad and balanced curriculum.
	When delivering sex education, all schools must have regard to the Government's guidance on sex and relationships education. The guidance encourages teachers to help pupils develop the self-esteem to value themselves and others, and requires that pupils be taught how the law applies to sexual relationships.
	The guidance advises teachers to plan a variety of activities which will help to engage boys as well as girls and states that programmes should focus on boys as much as girls.
	The non-statutory curriculum for personal, social and health and economic education, includes sexual exploitation among the areas to be covered. Schools are free to design their PSHE education according to the needs of their pupils.

Primary Education

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on allowing prematurely-born children to delay or defer entry to primary school.

David Laws: holding answer 1 February 2013
	Bliss—the charity for premature babies—wrote to the Minister of State for Schools about this subject last year and Department for Education officials will be meeting representatives of Bliss shortly. My hon. Friend the Member for Chippenham (Duncan Hames) also asked a question at Education Questions, on 21 January 2013, Official Report, column 21.

Primary Education

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he has issued to (a) primary schools and (b) local authorities on allowing prematurely-born children to delay or defer entry to primary school.

David Laws: holding answer 1 February 2013
	We want every child to thrive irrespective of their background and circumstances. That is why our drive is to place our trust in education and other professionals to decide how best to meet the needs of every child. The Department has not issued any guidance, over and above the requirements in the School Admissions Code, on the admission of prematurely-born children. The School Admissions Code requires school admission authorities to provide for the admission of all children in the September following their fourth birthday. Paragraph 2.17 of that code makes it clear that parents may defer their child's entry to school, or request that they attend part-time, until they reach compulsory school age at the start of the term following their fifth birthday. Children whose entry to school is deferred continue to be entitled to 15 hours a week of funded early education until they reach compulsory school age. Where a parent requests that their child is educated out of their normal age group, the code requires admission authorities to make a decision based on the circumstances of each case.

Primary Education

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to support prematurely-born children starting primary school.

David Laws: holding answer 1 February 2013
	We want every child to thrive irrespective of their background and circumstances. That is why our drive is to place our trust in education and other professional to decide how best to meet the needs of every child. We set out, in December 2012, reforms to the education and health support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. Within this, to help premature babies, who often have a learning need, but not necessarily a special educational need, we will:
	Extend the Achievement for All programme so personalised support is mainstream in all schools.
	Facilitate the transition to the open market of Every Child a Reader, Every Child a Talker and Every Child Counts programmes to help those children struggling with early communication, reading and mathematics.
	Introduce phonics-based training to support children who need additional help in reading.
	Work with SEN specialists as we develop the Reading Progress Check for six-year-olds to help identify children who require additional support.
	Introduce a new performance table indicator to give parents clear information on the progress of the lowest attaining pupils.
	Direct funding to the most deprived pupils—a third of whom are currently identified as having SEN—through the pupil premium.

School Meals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether he has assessed the effect of nutrition on learning and information uptake in schools;
	(2)  what recent steps he has taken to improve the nutritional content of school food.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department has not undertaken its own assessment but is aware of other research covering the impact of good nutrition on education.
	The current school food standards have been fully in place since September 2009. Research published by the School Food Trust shows that whilst the nutritional content of school lunches has improved since then, there is also room for further improvement in all schools.
	The Government want all pupils to have the opportunity to select a healthy, balanced school lunch. The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has appointed Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent as independent reviewers to examine school food across the country, in order to produce an action plan for schools. The reviewers are expected to present their findings shortly.

Schools: Snow and Ice

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the average net cost per day to a local authority of a (a) primary school and (b) secondary school having to close due to inclement weather.

David Laws: The Department does not collect the required data to assess the cost of a school closing due to inclement weather. We cannot, therefore, provide the figures requested.
	While we cannot give an accurate assessment, local authorities may incur costs in relation to the services they provide to schools, such as school transport and catering services.

Schools: Snow and Ice

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to support and encourage schools to remain open in adverse weather conditions.

David Laws: In the event of adverse weather conditions such as heavy snow, the Department expects head teachers to keep schools open for as many pupils as possible whenever it is reasonable for them to do so. In September 2010 the Department made changes to the law to address the perverse incentive for head teachers to close the entire school if a proportion of their pupils could not travel in because of adverse weather. Where a pupil is unable to get in the school can mark the register using absence code ‘Y', which means that the pupil's absence will not affect the school's absence figures.
	The Department has revised its advice to schools setting out our expectations and dispelling a number of myths around health and safety and staffing issues relating to adverse weather conditions. The advice, which was e-mailed to local authorities on 29 January, can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://tinyurl.com/37k7vmp

Schools: Snow and Ice

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect on pupil absence figures of adverse weather conditions.

David Laws: The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the effect on pupil absence figures because of adverse weather conditions in particular. Pupils marked with the ‘Y' code are not treated as absent. The ‘Y' code denotes circumstances when a pupil is unable to attend school due to exceptional circumstances such as national or local emergencies. This may include pupils unable to attend school due to adverse weather but may also include a wider range of exceptional or unplanned circumstances, such as strike action resulting in school closure or transport infrastructure failures.

Schools: Snow and Ice

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department has issued to Ofsted on accounting for pupil absences owing to adverse weather conditions when assessing a school's overall pupil absence record.

David Laws: Ofsted is an independent inspectorate and it is for Her Majesty's chief inspector to provide guidance to inspectors on how to take account of such matters. Ofsted, as part of routine inspection as set out in its framework, will consider a school's overall pupil absence record and, where it is low compared to the national average, will make recommendations for improvement. In doing so, it will take into account any exceptional circumstances that might have contributed to levels of pupil absence.

Special Educational Needs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils were statemented in each of the last 30 years.

Edward Timpson: Information for the years 1992 to 2012 is shown in the table. Comparable information is not available prior to 1992.
	The latest special educational needs information is published in the 'Special Educational Needs in England, January 2012' Statistical First Release at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001075/index.shtml
	
		
			 All schools(1): pupils with statements of special educational needs (SEN), as at January each year: 1992 to 2012, England 
			   Sole registration only(2) Sole and dual main registration(3,4) 
			 1992 Pupils with statements 160,760 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 7,626,160 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.1 n/a 
			     
			 1993 Pupils with statements 178,030 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 7,748,680 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.3 n/a 
			     
			 1994 Pupils with statements 194,540 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 7,882,835 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.5 n/a 
			     
			 1995 Pupils with statements 211,305 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 8,017,830 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.6 n/a 
			     
			 1996(6) Pupils with statements 227,350 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 8,116,545 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.8 n/a 
			     
			 1997 Pupils with statements 234,630 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 8,194,965 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.9 n/a 
			     
			 1998 Pupils with statements 242,295 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 8,260,580 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.9 n/a 
			     
			 1999 Pupils with statements 248,040 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 8,310,475 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 3.0 n/a 
			     
		
	
	
		
			 2000 Pupils with statements 252,855 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 8,345,815 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 3.0 n/a 
			     
			 2001(7) Pupils with statements 258,240 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 8,374,120 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 3.1 n/a 
			     
			 2002 Pupils with statements 248,980 n/a 
			  Pupils on roll 8,369,080 n/a 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 3.0 n/a 
			     
			 2003 Pupils with statements 250,545 251,480 
			  Pupils on roll 8,366,775 8375545 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 3.0 3.0 
			     
			 2004 Pupils with statements 247,585 250,450 
			  Pupils on roll 8,334,880 8347730 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 3.0 3.0 
			     
			 2005 Pupils with statements 242,580 245,510 
			  Pupils on roll 8,274,475 8,287,195 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.9 3.0 
			     
			 2006 Pupils with statements 236,745 240,220 
			  Pupils on roll 8,215,685 8,231,050 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.9 2.9 
			     
			 2007 Pupils with statements 229,110 232,760 
			  Pupils on roll 8,149,175 8,167,715 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.8 2.8 
			     
			 2008 Pupils with statements 223,610 227,315 
			  Pupils on roll 8,102,190 8,121,955 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.8 2.8 
			     
			 2009 Pupils with statements 221,670 225,400 
			  Pupils on roll 8,071,000 8,092,280 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.7 2.8 
			     
			 2010 Pupils with statements 220,895 223,945 
			  Pupils on roll 8,064,300 8,098,360 
		
	
	
		
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.7 2.8 
			     
			 2011 Pupils with statements 220,660 224,210 
			  Pupils on roll 8,090,355 8,123,865 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.7 2.8 
			     
			 2012 Pupils with statements 222,835 226,125 
			  Pupils on roll 8,148,395 8,178,200 
			  Incidence (percentage)(5) 2.7 2.8 
			 n/a = Not available. (1) Includes maintained nursery, direct-grant nursery, maintained primary, primary academies (including free schools), maintained secondary, secondary academies (including free schools), city technology colleges, maintained special, non-maintained special, pupil referral units and independent schools. (2) Prior to 2003 information is only available for pupils with a sole registration status. Sole registration status refers to a pupil only registered at one school. Dual main registration status refers to a pupil who is registered at more than one school, pupils are classed as a dual main registration at their first school and as a dual subsidiary registration at the second school. (3) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. (4) Information on pupil referral units includes pupils registered with other providers and in further education colleges. Prior to 2010 includes dual subsidiary registered pupils. (5) Incidence of pupils—the number of pupils with statements expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils on roll. (6) From 1996 onwards information for pupils attending pupil referral units has been included. (7) Estimates were made for January 2001 because the data for SEN were incomplete in that year. Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. Source: School Census

Students: Vetting

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what publications his Department issues on the need for Criminal Records Bureau checks for all adults in families who host foreign exchange students; whether schools are expected to carry out such checks; and if he will provide guidance on that matter from his Department.

Elizabeth Truss: The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) provides criminal records checks; it has replaced the former Criminal Records Bureau.
	Schools or FE colleges will generally not have to carry out DBS checks when arranging (for example on a school exchange) for a child to stay in England or Wales with a “host family” (private fostering) for under 28 days. There will be no duty to do a barred list check on such short term foster carers so long as the child's parents approve the choice of carers, and carers are unpaid volunteers, although they can carry out criminal records and barred list checks on the carers if they wish to do so. A barred person would be committing an offence if they provided foster care.
	The above exemption for schools from the new duty to check those providing overnight care was in publications issued in 2009 and 2010. The publications are the response to “Drawing the line” (December 2009) and the Vetting and Barring Scheme guidance (March 2010). We intend to consult soon on an update to “Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education” which will cover this area.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many senior officials of his Department's arm's length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's length body;
	(2)  how many senior officials in his Department's arm's length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's length body;
	(3)  how many chairs in his Department's arm's length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's length body.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department has two arm's length bodies.
	The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) has 60 offices across England and senior staff cover services nationally. There are three senior staff who are home workers. All CAFCASS staff can claim travel and subsistence in accordance with the organisations Expense Reimbursement Policy. CAFCASS have no chairs or senior officials paid on the basis that they are personally exempt from tax liability.
	The Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) has no officials or chairs covered by the criteria.
	Ofsted and Ofqual are non-ministerial bodies and should be contacted directly for any information.

JUSTICE

Driving under Influence

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people were given multiple custodial sentences for drink driving in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many people with a conviction for drink driving had previously been caught for the same offence within the last 10 years in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many people sentenced to a custodial sentence for drink driving had previously been caught for the same offence within the last 10 years in each year since 2000.

Jeremy Wright: The Police National Computer (PNC) came into existence in 2000 and information prior to this is not considered reliable so data before July 2001 are not available. The figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, (PNC) which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	Drink driving offences presented in the table include the following offences:
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(1) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 5(1)(a) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(2) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 5(1)(b) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a for a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.
	Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 6(4) Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test.
	Failing to allow specimen of blood to be subjected to laboratory test. Road Traffic Act 1998.
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment)—drink. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2).
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment)—drugs. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(1)
	Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs, (impairment)—drink. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
	Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs (impairment)—drugs. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
	PQ 139797
	Table 1 shows the number of offenders given multiple custodial sentences for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of individual offenders given multiple custodial sentences for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales 
			 Year ending Number of offenders 
			 June 2002 44 
			 June 2003 57 
			 June 2004 60 
			 June 2005 53 
			 June 2006 51 
			 June 2007 47 
			 June 2008 39 
			 June 2009 40 
			 June 2010 21 
			 June 2011 18 
			 June 2012 11 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	PQ 139799
	Table 2 shows the number of offenders convicted of a drink driving offence during the 12 months ending June for each year who have previously been convicted of a drink driving offence.
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of offenders in each year convicted for a drink driving offence, who have previously been convicted for a drink driving offence, for the 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales 
			 Year ending Number of offenders 
			 June 2002 12,204 
			 June 2003 14,463 
			 June 2004 15,964 
			 June 2005 16,637 
			 June 2006 16,749 
			 June 2007 16,849 
			 June 2008 16,917 
			 June 2009 15,631 
			 June 2010 14,418 
			 June 2011 13,031 
			 June 2012 12,867 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	The number of previous convictions given in Table 2 are based on individuals in each 12 month period and therefore an individual may have been counted more than once if they had been convicted in a different period.
	PQ 139800
	Table 3 shows the number of offenders sentenced to custody for a drink driving offence who had previously been caught for the same offence within the last 10 years in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012 in England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 3: Number of offenders sentenced to custody for a drink driving offence who had previously been caught for the same offence within the last 10 years in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales 
			 Year ending Number of offenders 
			 June 2002 1,941 
			 June 2003 1,899 
			 June 2004 1,932 
			 June 2005 1,945 
			 June 2006 1,736 
			 June 2007 1,449 
			 June 2008 1,422 
			 June 2009 1,260 
			 June 2010 1,001 
			 June 2011 776 
			 June 2012 746 
			 Source: Ministry of Justice

ICT

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) planned start date, (b) original planned completion date, (c) current expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) current estimated cost is for each information technology project over £1 million undertaken by his Department and its agencies since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: In the context of this answer, information technology projects over £l million since 2010 is interpreted as projects that were authorised for delivery after 1 April 2010 that are delivering ICT infrastructure or new or significantly enhanced applications. Costs incurred prior to authorisation for delivery are not included. The following table details the information requested.
	
		
			 All IT projects that entered delivery phase from 1 April 2010 
			 Ref Initiative Name Actual Start Date Baselined Finish Date Actual Finish Date Baselined Budget (£) Actual Outturn (£) 
			 Closed       
			 HQ 228 DISC Service Improvement Programme 1 January 2012 31 July 2012 31 July 2012 3,289,000 3,289,000 
			 HMCTS 033 Legal Services Commission (LSC) Secure Enclave(1) 27 June 2011 31 March 2012 30 September 2012 4,293,000 3,450,000 
			 HMCTS 243 HMCTS Prison to Court Video Links Refresh 1 January 2012 21 September 2012 21 September 2012 4,922,000 4,376,000 
			 HMCTS 230 Electronic Presentation of Evidence Refresh(2) 1 March 2012 31 August 2012 31 October 2012 4,023,000 3,995,000 
			 HMCTS 232 HMCTS Prison to Court Video Links Extension(3) 1 January 2012 24 August 2012 21 October 2012 3,354,000 2,958,000 
			 HMCTS 176 DARTS National Roll Out(4) 28 June 2010 31 March 2012 27 April 2012 12,335,000 10,919,000 
			 HQ 184 Network and Security Delivery Phase 2 21 October 2011 31 July 2012 31 July 2012 2,488,000 1,799,000 
			 HQ 005 Network and Security Delivery Phase 1(5) 8 October 2010 22 July 2011 31 March 2012 3,200,000 3,205,000 
			 HQ 010 Justice Video Services Programme(6) 1 May 2010 30 June 2011 19 August 2011 3,200,000 2,415,000 
			        
			 Live       
			 HQ 160 WAN Network Optimisation Project(7) 1 December 2011 30 September 2013 28 December 2013 27,791,000 27,791,000 
			 HMCTS 247 Sustainable Print Solution 1 August 2012 13 July 2013 13 July 2013 12,500,000 12,433,000 
			 HQ 287 DISC Service Enhancement 10 October 2012 31 March 2013 31 January 2013 2,000,000 2,000,000 
			 HQ 288-02 LSC Recovery Island/Secure Enclave Migration (RI/SE) 1 January 2013 31 July 2013 31 July 2013 2,414,000 3,419,000 
			 HMCTS 170 CREST Replatform 3 September 2012 30 April 2013 30 April 2013 2,702,000 2,668,000 
			 HMCTS 174 LIBRA Data Retension and Deletion 12 September 2012 26 April 2013 26 April 2013 1,031,000 1,011,000 
			 HQ 185 Exchange Secure Portal Framework Stabilisation(8) 25 November 2011 29 September 2012 22 March 2013 1,801,000 1,322,000 
			 NOMS 277 NOMS ICT Services 2 January 2013 31 October 2014 31 October 2014 25,500,000 25,500,000 
			 (1) Project had a dependency on a business project and was rescoped and rescheduled to reflect changes to the business project. (2) Project had to reschedule some installations due to court sittings. (3) Project had to reschedule some installations due to court sittings. (4) Roll-out completed to original schedule. Project was extended for a month to ensure support for courts at the end of the roll-out. (5) Project was late due to supplier delay. (6) Project was extended to agree a commercial approach through the ICT service catalogue for any further roll-out of the service. (7) Agreement over the corporate telephony policy has taken longer to resolve and implement. (h) Project extended to include additional scope to save costs incurred from running a separate project.

Offenders: Deportation

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the legal aid used by foreign national offenders to prevent deportation via the automatic deportation criteria has cost since those criteria's inception; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: The information is not available. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) funds legal services within broad categories of law, such as public law and immigration and asylum. Spending on foreign national offenders to challenge automatic deportation cannot be disaggregated from other spending on immigration and asylum matters.

Plants

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since his appointment.

Jeremy Wright: Our accounting systems do not record expenditure in sufficient detail to allow us to extract the cost of indoor and outdoor plants and trees from other miscellaneous expenditure.

Prisoner Escapes: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have escaped from prisons in London in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: Between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2012 there were two escapes from prisons in London, details are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Establishment 
			 2008/09 Pentonville 
			 2009/10 Brixton 
		
	
	Figures for escapes from all prison since 1995 are provided in the Prison Digest contained in the Prison and Probation Trusts Performance Statistics. This can be found at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/prison-probation/prison-probation-performance-stats/prison-performance-digest-2011-12.xls

Prisoners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were in prison on 1 January 2013; how many such people were foreign nationals; and what the (a) nationality and (b) recorded country of origin was of each such foreign national.

Jeremy Wright: Data are held centrally on the prison population on the last day of each month, so figures have been provided for 31 December 2012.
	On 31 December 2012 there were 10,592 foreign nationals in the prison population. The following table shows a breakdown by country of nationality. This information is published quarterly in the Offender Management Statistics bulletin, available on the Department's website. Information is not held centrally on the country of origin of prisoners.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Population in prison, by nationality, 31 December 2012, England and Wales 
			 Nationality Total 
			 All nationalities 83,757 
			 British nationals 72,347 
			 Foreign nationals 10,592 
			 Nationality not recorded 818 
			   
			 Total Africa 2,262 
			 Algeria 131 
			 Angola 65 
			 Benin 3 
			 Botswana 2 
			 Burkina Faso 1 
			 Burundi 13 
			 Cameroon 18 
			 Central African Republic 13 
			 Chad 1 
			 Comoros 2 
			 Congo 7 
			 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 11 
			 Egypt 18 
			 Equatorial Guinea 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Ethiopia 76 
			 Gambia 57 
			 Ghana 126 
			 Guinea 19 
			 Ivory Coast 25 
			 Kenya 55 
			 Liberia 19 
			 Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 20 
			 Malawi 14 
			 Mali 2 
			 Mauritania 5 
			 Mauritius 17 
			 Morocco 66 
			 Mozambique 2 
			 Namibia 4 
			 Niger 22 
			 Nigeria 544 
			 Rwanda 13 
			 Senegal 5 
			 Seychelles 3 
			 Sierra Leone 69 
			 Somalia 401 
			 South Africa 80 
			 Sudan 40 
			 Tanzania 17 
			 Togo 5 
			 Tunisia 20 
			 Uganda 49 
			 Zambia 18 
			 Zimbabwe 183 
			   
			 Total Asia 2,013 
			 Afghanistan 169 
			 Bangladesh 221 
			 Cambodia 1 
			 China 155 
			 India 424 
			 Indonesia 3 
			 Japan 5 
			 Korea, DPR (North Korea) 1 
			 Korea, Republic of 5 
			 Lao Peoples Democratic Republic 2 
			 Malaysia 23 
			 Myanmar 3 
			 Nepal 8 
			 Pakistan 450 
			 Philippines 22 
			 Singapore 4 
			 Sri Lanka 114 
			 Taiwan (Nationalist Chinese) 5 
			 Thailand 5 
			 Vietnam 393 
			   
			 Total Central and South America 257 
			 Argentina 6 
			 Belize 1 
			 Bolivia 13 
			 Brazil 52 
			 Chile 13 
			 Colombia 65 
			 Costa Rica 4 
			 Ecuador 12 
			 El Salvador 1 
			 French Guiana 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Guatemala 7 
			 Guyana 22 
			 Honduras 1 
			 Mexico 32 
			 Nicaragua 2 
			 Paraguay 2 
			 Peru 3 
			 Suriname 2 
			 Venezuela 16 
			   
			 Total Europe 4,441 
			 Albania 201 
			 Armenia 9 
			 Austria 11 
			 Azerbaijan 4 
			 Belgium 21 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 
			 Bulgaria 47 
			 Croatia 9 
			 Cyprus 27 
			 Czech Republic 100 
			 Denmark 10 
			 Estonia 23 
			 Finland 3 
			 France 121 
			 Georgia 6 
			 Germany 63 
			 Greece 21 
			 Hungary 42 
			 Irish Republic 734 
			 Italy 79 
			 Kazakhstan 5 
			 Latvia 183 
			 Lithuania 462 
			 Luxembourg 1 
			 Macedonia 7 
			 Malta 7 
			 Moldova 10 
			 Monaco 1 
			 Netherlands 141 
			 Norway 5 
			 Poland 807 
			 Portugal 229 
			 Romania 624 
			 Russian Federation 63 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 11 
			 Slovakia 98 
			 Slovenia 2 
			 Spain 83 
			 Sweden 21 
			 Switzerland 4 
			 Turkey 107 
			 Turkmenistan 1 
			 Ukraine 25 
			 Uzbekistan 3 
			   
			 Total North America 76 
			 Canada 23 
			 United States 53 
			   
			 Total Middle East 509 
			 Bahrain 1 
			 Iran 214 
		
	
	
		
			 Iraq 180 
			 Israel 45 
			 Jordan 1 
			 Kuwait 7 
			 Lebanon 12 
			 Saudi Arabia 12 
			 Syrian Arab Republic 24 
			 United Arab Emirates 3 
			 Yemen, Republic of 10 
			   
			 Total Oceania 27 
			 Australia 14 
			 Fiji 6 
			 New Zealand 6 
			 Samoa 1 
			   
			 Total West Indies 1,007 
			 Anguilla 1 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 5 
			 Aruba 1 
			 Bahamas 4 
			 Barbados 32 
			 Bermuda 6 
			 Cayman Islands 3 
			 Cuba 5 
			 Dominica 16 
			 Grenada 9 
			 Haiti 1 
			 Jamaica 821 
			 Montserrat 6 
			 St Kitts and Nevis 3 
			 St Lucia 24 
			 St Vincent and the Grenadines 14 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 56

Prisons: Alcoholic Drinks

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the access of prisoners to alcohol.

Jeremy Wright: NOMS has in place a strategy to reduce supply and demand for alcohol with a comprehensive range of security measures and searching techniques to detect items of contraband including alcohol and prevent smuggling into prisons. In addition we use specially trained dogs to detect illicit alcohol.

Prisons: Television

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have access to a television in their cells.

Jeremy Wright: Prisoners' eligibility for access to in-cell television in England and Wales is dependent on their status under the Prison Service's Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme. Prison Service Instruction 11/2011 refers, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. The IEP scheme must consist of at least three tiers (basic, standard and enhanced). Access to in-cell television is restricted to those at standard and enhanced levels and is a forfeitable privilege, and prisoners are charged for use.
	Information relating to the number of prisoners who have access to television within their cells is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by manual checking with individual establishments.

Probation

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to ensure that professional standards are maintained following the outsourcing of probation work.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has recently published the consultation paper “Transforming Rehabilitation—a revolution in the way we manage offenders”, which sets out our plans for reforming the way in which offenders are rehabilitated in the community.
	Under our proposals, we expect that probation professionals will work in the public, private and voluntary sectors, protecting the public and delivering rehabilitation services using their considerable skills and experience in working with offenders. We are clear that we will maintain this expertise and a strong probation profession.
	Some responses to the earlier consultation paper “Punishment and Reform: effective probation services” suggested the establishment of a professional body or institute to help practitioners maintain high standards of practice. We will look at the most appropriate way of ensuring professional standards are maintained and “Transforming Rehabilitation” asks a specific question in this regard.
	The consultation closes on 22 February 2013 and we will announce further details of our proposals once we have considered responses.

Probation

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to his plans to have supervision of offenders carried out by the private or voluntary sector, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government regarding the supervision of offenders who move between England and Scotland.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has recently published the consultation paper “Transforming Rehabilitation—a revolution in the way we manage offenders”, which sets out our plans for reforming the way in which offenders are rehabilitated in the community.
	As part of the consultation process we have engaged with other Government Departments and the devolved Administrations in Wales and Scotland and will continue to do so.
	The consultation closes on 22 February 2013 and we will announce further details of our proposals once we have considered responses.

Probation

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to ensure that private and independent sector contractors meet their targets for crime reduction as part of his plans for the outsourcing of probation tasks; and what sanctions he can use if those targets are not met.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has recently published the consultation paper “Transforming Rehabilitation—a revolution in the way we manage offenders” which sets out proposals for driving down reoffending by extending rehabilitative provision, opening up service delivery and paying by results.
	We intend to apply payment by results, only paying providers in full if they achieve a sufficient reduction in reoffending. The consultation closes on 22 February 2013 and we will set out further details of how we will reform the way we manage offenders once we have considered responses.

Travel and Subsistence Payments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many senior officials of his Department's arm's length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's length body.

Jeremy Wright: The Department's travel and subsistence policies set out the circumstances in which officials may reclaim travel and subsistence expenses. They also set out the circumstances in which the Department will bear the cost of the individual member of staffs own liability to tax.
	It would be a significant exercise to identify the number of senior officials who have made travel and subsistence claims that exempted them from being personally liable for any tax. It would require each individual expenses form to be collated and reviewed, incurring a disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

A1: Newcastle Upon Tyne

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his oral statement of 28 January 2013, Official Report, columns 671-85, on High Speed Rail, what investment his Department has allocated for the dualling of the A1 up to Newcastle.

Stephen Hammond: The Chancellor announced investment of £378 million to upgrade key sections of the A1 (Lobley Hill and Leeming to Barton) in the north east as part of the autumn statement of 5 December 2012, Official Report, columns 871-882.

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct a review into the quality of air in aeroplane cabins and the consequent effect on pilots.

Simon Burns: Four independent research studies commissioned by the Department into cabin air have already been completed. The main study was published by Cranfield University in May 2011. These studies have now been concluded and the published reports have been sent to the independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) for their consideration and views.

Driving: Blood Alcohol Levels

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken in respect of the proposals contained in the 10-Minute Rule Bill on permitted blood alcohol levels for drivers introduced by the hon. Member for Colchester on 22 November 2011.

Stephen Hammond: The Department has no plans in respect of lowering permitted blood alcohol levels for drivers.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on road commuters using the A5 as a result of the redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on businesses in Relay Park as a result of the redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on homes and properties in Hockley and Overwoods Road.

Simon Burns: The initial preferred scheme has emerged from several hundred options as the one considered overall to best meet objectives for passenger demand, cost, ease-of-build, journey time and sustainability. Considerations of sustainability have been integral to scheme design since commencing work on Phase Two in autumn 2010. During this time, the sustainability team has worked closely with the engineers to develop route and station proposals that fit as far as possible with the environment and communities they pass.
	However, we are at an early stage in the development of the scheme: more work will be undertaken by HS2 Ltd to refine the alignment and include mitigation such as landscaping and noise barriers, and a number of the impacts will reduce as the designs are progressed.
	HS2 Ltd will consult with local authorities, the Highway's Agency and other relevant bodies to ensure that traffic disruption to the A5 will be kept to a minimum in the event of any redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed limits of deviation for High Speed 2 cover land subject to private enactments or secondary legislation.

Simon Burns: Limits of deviation have not yet been proposed for High Speed 2. This will be done as part of the hybrid Bill submission. As part of this, land included within the limits of deviation will be checked to determine whether they are subject to any private legislation.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much capital towards the building of HS2 he expects to raise from local authorities whose areas will benefit from the new line; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how he will determine which local authorities benefit from the building of HS2 enough to determine that they should contribute to its capital costs;

Simon Burns: The Government intend to offer local authorities, and their public and private sector partners, opportunities to contribute to the HS2 programme so that they may secure valuable benefits for local people and local businesses. The nature of those opportunities, and the contributions made, may take a wide range of forms reflecting varied local circumstances. We do not intend to prejudice the outcome of future discussions and negotiations.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of households in Warrington North constituency which would be adversely affected by the proposed route for High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: If the line is built along the initial preferred route, then in the Warrington North constituency area 21 properties would be demolished, of which four are residential. A further three properties would be at risk of demolition. We have no estimate of the number of properties which may be affected in other ways.

Network Rail

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress Network Rail has made in developing a voluntary transparency code in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Simon Burns: In June 2012, Network Rail recognised the demand for more of its data and information by launching a voluntary publication scheme, enhancing its transparency and accountability.
	The data and information, which are updated on its website and added to on a quarterly basis, include:
	information about risk at Network Rail's level crossings
	budget and cost of large infrastructure projects
	a breakdown of staff salaries, by £25,000 bracket, for those earning above £100,000
	agendas and minutes of NR Board meetings.
	There is also an online form allowing members of the public to make suggestions for further disclosure.

Rail Franchising Programme Review

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to respond to the report of the Brown Review of the Rail Franchising Programme.

Simon Burns: On 31 January 2013 the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), made a statement outlining the Government's decisions about the three paused franchises, which took into account the recommendations made by Mr Brown for those franchises.
	We will set out a full timetable for the future rail franchising programme in the spring, alongside a statement of franchising policy in light of both Mr Brown's recommendations and the Transport Select Committee's “Rail 2020” report.

Railway Stations: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 808W, on railway stations, what plans he has to hold discussions with the Welsh Government on the new station fund.

Simon Burns: During the design of the New Stations Fund officials held discussions with the Welsh Government and incorporated a number of their comments into the principles of the Fund. Network Rail (as administrators of the Fund) has also had discussions with the Welsh Government over station proposals. As the bids for funding are developed officials will continue to hold discussions with the Welsh Government and other bidders. The Welsh Government have been invited to attend the Panel that will make recommendations on the bids for funding.

Railways: Franchises

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure Ministers will be more closely involved in the creation and implementation of franchise policy.

Simon Burns: We have taken immediate steps to restructure the Department following the findings of the Laidlaw inquiry and Brown review, including the appointment of a director of rail franchising and director general of rail.
	This strengthened governance will help provide more assurance to Ministers, who will continue to remain closely involved in decision making on rail franchising policy.
	Laidlaw and Brown's detailed recommendations deserve, and are getting, careful consideration by the Department, including its Ministers, and the Secretary of State for Transport will be making a statement on the future franchising programme and policy in the spring.

Road Traffic Control

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has concluded his assessment of his Department's consultation on Traffic Orders: Simplifying the Process in respect of the requirement for Traffic Regulation Orders to be advertised in local newspapers.

Norman Baker: Yes. We received a large number of representations on this matter, with a clear majority of responses from local government being in favour of the proposed change, and a clear majority of responses from MPs and local newspapers being against any change. I have therefore decided to not change the present arrangements at this point, but, with colleagues across Government, to keep the matter under review.

Transport

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the British Chambers of Commerce Transport Priorities Map, published on 26 November 2012.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is firmly committed to delivering the infrastructure that the UK needs to ensure it is an effective place to do business. That is why the Autumn Statement put transport at the centre of the Coalition Government's plan to boost growth and drive the UK's economic recovery by committing over £1 billion for crucial schemes. It outlined a bold package of measures which will overhaul key parts of the country's transport system, tackling congestion bottlenecks and building new roads to allow quicker and more efficient journeys. As well as announcing four new major road schemes, £95 million was committed to accelerating existing schemes.
	We are also engaged in the biggest rail investment programme since the 19(th) century.
	Alongside the Autumn Statement, HM Treasury also published the 2012 National Infrastructure Plan Delivery Update, which sets out recent progress for all our major infrastructure projects.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  who is conducting the investigation into the collapse of the West Coast Mainline franchise deal;
	(2)  what his Department is doing to ensure the investigation into the collapse of the West Coast Mainline franchise deal has every resource afforded to it;
	(3)  when the investigation into the collapse of the West Coast Mainline franchise deal will be concluded.

Simon Burns: The inquiry into what went wrong with the cancelled West Coast Mainline franchising competition was carried out by Sam Laidlaw. His full report was published on 6 December 2012 and is available on the Department for Transport's website.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what disciplinary actions are being taken against those civil servants who misinformed Ministers during the West Coast Mainline franchise deal.

Simon Burns: A very detailed investigation has been undertaken by Bill Stow, who is an experienced former senior civil servant, into the conduct of individuals.
	It is on the basis of his detailed report that the permanent secretary made the decision to initiate disciplinary action against a number of individuals in the Department. This is a confidential staff matter and those processes are still ongoing.

CABINET OFFICE

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the number of electors registered in each constituency is following the latest electoral register update.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what the number of electors registered in each constituency is following the latest electoral register update (142059).
	The Office for National Statistics produces electoral statistics using data collected each year for the published annual register. Electoral statistics based on the published annual register for 2012 are currently being produced and will be published on 28 February 2013.
	The latest available statistics are for 2011 and these are published on the ONS website at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/electoral-statistics-for-uk/2011/index.html

Part-time Employment: Self-Employed

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the change in the level of part-time self-employment was in (a) December 2009 to June 2011 and (b) June 2011 to December 2012.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the change in the level of part-time self-employment was in (a) December 2009 to June 2011 and (b) June 2011 to December 2012. 142015
	Estimates of employment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The change in the level of part-time self-employment between the three month periods October to December 2009 and April to June 2011 was estimated to be 104,000. Between April to June 2011 and September to November 2012 (the latest period available) it was estimated to be 95,000. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.
	An individual's part-time status is self-classified on the LFS.
	Estimates of part-time self-employment are published monthly in Table 3 of the Labour Market Statistical Bulletin, available here:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Labour+Market
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Population

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the number of adults aged over 18-years-old is in each constituency, based on information received from the 2011 Census.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the number of adults aged over 18 years old is in each constituency, based on information received from the 2011 Census. (142060)
	Attached is a file containing 2011 Census Table QS103EW which provides the information you have requested for Westminster Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales. This table will be placed in the Library of the House.
	This information is also available for download from the NOMIS website
	www.nomisweb.co.uk

Unemployment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the rate of (a) unemployment, (b) unemployment of more than 12 months in duration and (c) unemployment of more than two years in duration is among (i) white respondents aged from 18 to 24, (ii) white respondents aged over 25, (iii) members of all other ethnic groups aged from 18 to 24 and (iv) members of all other ethnic groups aged over 25.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the rate of (a) unemployment, (b) unemployment of more than 12 months in duration and (c) unemployment of more than two years in duration is among (i) white respondents aged from 18 to 24, (ii) white respondents aged over 25, (iii) members of all other ethnic groups aged from 18 to 24 and (iv) members of all other ethnic groups aged over 25. 142016
	The table provides unemployment levels and rates by ethnic group and by age for the period October 2011 to September 2012. In addition to the rates requested, the table includes the level of unemployment in each of the requested categories and, also, the level expressed as a proportion of the total unemployed in each category. This is consistent with the preferred presentation of statistics of unemployment by duration as used in the monthly Labour Market Statistical Bulletin.
	The estimates are derived from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Similar estimates can be derived from the Labour Force Survey but the sample size is too small for sufficiently reliable statistics at this level of detail. Consequently the APS is preferred in this case.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty, as indicated by the guide to quality in the table.
	
		
			 Unemployment by age, duration and ethnic groups: Averages over the 12-month period October 2011 to September 2012, United Kingdom 
			  White ethnic group(1) All other ethnic groups(2) 
			  18 to 24 25 and over 18 to 24 25 and over 
			  Level (‘000) As % of total Rate(3) (%) Level (‘000) As % of total Rate(3) (%) Level (‘000) As % of total Rate(3) (%) Level (‘000) As % of total Rate(3) (%) 
			 Total unemployed *638 100 17.9 *1,252 100 5.2 **139 100 30.0 *301 100 10.3 
			 Unemployed for over 12 months **179 28 5.0 *491 39 2.0 ***33 24 7.1 **117 39 4.0 
		
	
	
		
			 Unemployed for over 24 months **80 13 2.2 *277 22 1.1 ****12 8 2.5 **63 21 2.1 
			 (1) White includes respondents in England, Wales and Scotland identifying themselves as ‘White-Gypsy or Irish Traveller’ and respondents in Scotland identifying themselves as ‘White-Polish’. (2) Includes respondents in Northern Ireland identifying themselves as ‘Irish Traveller’ and respondents in all UK countries identifying themselves as ‘Arab’, mixed/multiple ethnic groups, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, black/African/Caribbean/black British and other ethnic groups. (3) The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed people divided by the number of economically active people; 'economically active’ comprises all those who are either employed or unemployed. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV - for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV< 5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV < 10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV < 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes Source: Annual Population Survey (APS)

Voluntary Work

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department is taking to build a legacy of volunteering from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Nick Hurd: The Prime Minister set out that volunteering is one of the three key priorities for the London 2012 legacy, recognising the importance of capitalising on the success of the games makers and the other London 2012 volunteers. The Cabinet Office is working with the Greater London Authority to deliver the volunteering legacy. The main strands of this fall into five themes which draw on both new and existing initiatives to encourage people to make a difference to their communities:
	Providing opportunities to volunteer, including initiatives such as Join in, Dementia Friends and Capital Clean-Up;
	Making it easier to volunteer by supporting work to match volunteers and opportunities and cutting red tape;
	Inspiring a generation by engaging young people, including National Citizen Service;
	Using volunteers for major events, including the Commonwealth games;
	Reward and recognition for volunteers, including though the honours system.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Tax

Rob Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made an assessment of the likely effect on (a) economic growth and (b) the public finances of (i) cutting and (ii) abolishing capital gains tax; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: Capital gains tax contributed £4.3 billion in Exchequer receipts in 2011-12. The Government believe that the current capital gains tax regime represents a good balance between raising revenue, reducing the incentives to substitute income for a capital gain and retaining incentives to save and invest.
	Nevertheless, the Government keep all areas of the tax system under review at all times. Any changes to the tax system are considered and announced by the Chancellor as part of the normal Budget process.

Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to making the installation of a carbon monoxide detector a condition of sale for home insurance.

Sajid Javid: The Government do not prescribe the terms or conditions that insurance companies may set when offering insurance. Insurers use their claims experience and other industry-wide statistics to assess the risks posed by an individual and set the terms on which they will offer insurance cover. The terms of insurance may include requirements that the policyholder must take preventative measures to mitigate or minimise the risk of an insured event occurring.

Corporation Tax

Rob Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made an assessment of the likely effect on (a) economic growth and (b) the public finances of cutting corporation tax to (i) 20 per cent and (ii) 12.5 per cent; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The main rate of corporation tax has been reduced from 28% in 2010 to 24% in April 2012, and will then fall to 23% in April 2013 and 21% in April 2014. No further reductions have been announced.
	Announcements regarding the main rate of corporation tax are made at the Budget or autumn statement. When tax announcements are made, Tax Information and Impact Notes summarising the impact of new policies are published on the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) website. The OBR makes independent judgments about the economic effects of policies after each fiscal event.
	In total the corporate tax rate is set to fall by 7 percentage points from its 2010 rate of 28%, reducing the burden on business by around £6 billion per year by 2016. This will reduce the cost of new investment and therefore incentivise activity across the economy, supporting economic growth.

Debts: Advisory Services

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Money Advice Service in finalising contracts for the provision of debt advice.

Sajid Javid: The Money Advice Service is an independent body and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) is responsible for approving its business plan and budget.
	I have asked the Money Advice Service to respond to the question that you have raised in writing. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Individual Savings Accounts

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his announcement in the autumn statement that the Government will consult on expanding the list of qualifying investments for stocks and shares ISAs to include shares traded on small and medium enterprises equity markets, when the consultation will be published; and how long it will last.

Sajid Javid: The Government understand the need to encourage investment in growing businesses, and will shortly publish a written consultation on expanding the list of qualifying investments for stocks and shares ISAs to include shares traded on SME equity markets. Officials have already held a series of meetings with stakeholders since the autumn statement as part of the Government's consultation on this change.
	The Government have published a Tax Consultation Framework which sets out how consultations on tax policy will be carried out. This can be found at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/tax-consultation-framework.pdf

Minimum Wage

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average (a) fine and (b) compensation is in cases where employees have successfully claimed for not having been paid the minimum wage (i) nationally and (ii) in the Vale of Clwyd.

David Gauke: HMRC does not keep statistics by district. The average penalty charge for an employer found to have underpaid its workers for the current financial year is £1,072. For the same period, the average amount that workers have been compensated for loss of earnings is £307.

Minimum Wage

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of employers paying below the minimum wage have been successfully prosecuted; and how many and what proportion of those have paid (a) full back-pay and (b) compensation.

David Gauke: The first prosecution for an offence under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 took place in 2007. Since then, there have been a further seven prosecutions for minimum wage offences. This represents less than 1% of the total number of employers who have been found to be paying less than the national minimum wage.
	Three of the prosecutions included offences under Section 31 (1) of the NMW Act 1998, where the employer refuses or wilfully neglects to pay NMW. In all of these cases, the workers received full payment of the arrears. The workers involved did not receive compensation for loss of earnings because the prosecutions took place before compensation arrangements were introduced from April 2009.
	The remaining prosecutions were for obstruction or record-keeping offences. In one of those cases, the company went into liquidation with no assets and in the remaining case, no underpayment of wages was identified.

Minimum Wage: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency received a warning for non-payment of the minimum wage in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

David Gauke: holding answer 6 February 2013
	HMRC does not keep statistics at constituency level. The number of employers identified by the two compliance teams in Scotland as not paying the minimum wage for the period from 1 February 2012 to 31 January 2013 was 81.

NHS: Private Sector

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) corporation tax, (b) VAT and (c) other specific taxes was received by the Exchequer from private companies providing health services accessed within the NHS for each year between 2007 and 2012.

David Gauke: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. This is because HMRC does not categorise in the tax system private companies providing health services within the NHS from other companies.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Sajid Javid: The total cost of overtime payments for HM Treasury and each of its arm’s length bodies are shown in the following table along with the average cost per member of staff, for the following financial years; 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. Also included in the table are the comparable figures for financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 (to December ) 
			 HMT overtime total 886,485 1,114,763 635,820 391,995 137,023 
			 HMT overtime average 713 826 509 333 121 
			 DMO overtime total 76,236 64,885 57,680 58,805 35,215 
			 DMO overtime average 886 713 620 565 341 
			 APA overtime total — 1,322 2,277 1,075 291 
			 APA overtime average — 37 65 36 29 
			 UKFI overtime total — — — 270 112 
			 UKFI overtime average — — — 19 11 
			 OBR overtime total — — — 40,565 1,122 
			 OBR overtime average — — — 2,386 66

Social Security Benefits: Immigrants

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many migrants residing in the UK claim benefits on behalf of children living abroad; in which countries such children reside; and at which job centres each such claim was lodged.

Sajid Javid: holding answer 1 February 2013
	The main purpose of child benefit and the child tax credit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the rules for these benefits generally do not provide for them to be paid in respect of children who live abroad.
	Nevertheless, both child benefit and the child tax credit are family benefits under EC Regulation 883/2004. This regulation protects the social security rights of nationals of all member states of the European economic area (EEA), including the UK, and Switzerland when they exercise their rights of free movement under EU law.
	The EC regulations have detailed rules to decide which national social security scheme a worker should pay into and which member state has responsibility for the payment of benefits, including family benefits. The EC regulations generally provide that workers should pay contributions into the social security scheme of the member state where they work and, in turn, that state is responsible for the payment of family benefits.
	Consequently, nationals of other EEA member states who are working in the UK and paying compulsory UK national insurance contributions are entitled to claim UK family benefits in respect of children living in another member state.
	I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him on 28 January 2013, Official Report, columns 619-20W, for details about the number of claims for family benefits paid under the EC regulations for children resident in another member state and which member states such children reside.
	Claims for family benefits are made to HM Revenue and Customs and not through Job Centres which are administered by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Taxation: Fraud

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue lost to the Exchequer as a result of tax fraud in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) South Lanarkshire in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: Estimates of the revenue lost to tax fraud are only produced at UK level. Estimates for the UK are available for 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2010-11, which include a breakdown of the three behaviours which are defined as fraud: criminal attacks, evasion and the hidden economy.
	However, the behaviour breakdown is based on management assumptions and judgment and therefore it is not possible to draw robust conclusions on the change in the level of tax fraud from year to year.
	For 2007-08: £15 billion
	http://irscot.inrev.gov.uk/budget10/pbr/00notices/docs/5450_other.pdf
	For 2009-10: £14 billion
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-gaps/mtg-2011.pdf
	For 2010-11: £15 billion
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-gaps/mtg-2012.pdf

Welfare Tax Credits: Birmingham

Jack Dromey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many (a) people, (b) people in work and (c) households in (i) Birmingham, Erdington constituency and (ii) Birmingham are in receipt of tax credits; and what the average weekly payment is in each case;
	(2)  how many people in (a) Birmingham, Erdington constituency and (b) Birmingham are in (i) full-time work, (ii) part-time work and (iii) not in paid employment and in receipt of child tax credits.

Sajid Javid: The figures presented here relate to the position as at 1 December 2012. All the figures presented exclude those out-of-work cases where support equivalent to tax credits is provided by DWP through out of work benefits.
	Table 1 shows the number of adults, working adults and households in the two respective regions. A working adult is defined as someone who works at least 16 hours and is within a family eligible for working tax credit, in line with working tax credit rules.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of adults, working adults and households in Birmingham and Birmingham 
			 Thousand 
			  Birmingham, Erdington constituency Birmingham: local authority 
			 Number of adults 16.4 164.5 
			 Number of adults in work 8.6 79.3 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of households 12.0 111.7 
		
	
	Tax credits are paid at a household level. Average weekly entitlement can therefore only be provided for households. The average weekly payment for the two respective regions is:
	Birmingham, Erdington: £125
	Birmingham LA: £135
	Table 2 shows the number of adults in full-time work and part-time work, as well as the number of adults not in work.
	There is no standard definition of full-time and part-time work. These have been defined to be consistent with tax credits hour's thresholds.
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of full-time, part-time, and out of work adults in Birmingham and Birmingham, Erdington 
			 Thousand 
			  Birmingham, Erdington constituency Birmingham local authority 
			 Number of adults in full-time work (working 30 hours p/w or more) 5.6 51.2 
			 Number of adults in part-time work (working 16 to 29 hours p/w) 3.0 30.0 
			 Number of adults who are out of work or working less than 16 hours in receipt of CTC 7.5 81.0